Embark on a sonic odyssey with Foreign Material's latest release on Navigare Audio. Drawing inspiration from the all-encompassing influence of Saturnus, the god of time, transcendence and agriculture. Martins musical universe is both explorative and traditional, taking listeners on unexpected paths while maintaining an innocent and joyful sense of discovery. You can never really expect where he will take you with his new release, you get the sense that he's carving out the path as he's walking. On the B-side, we find none other than brother Toffe, the master of suspense - dubbing it out with a reshape of the title track "Saturnian Dub" in an homage to the deity of the golden age of abundance and peace.
Jack's House Recordings favourite (Alex Arnout), is back with another 4 track solid EP. This is the 3rd EP with Alex signed to the label. Alex was the first artist to release on the imprint back in 2016 with sell out Confirmation Bias ep followed by the Sync Jam release and further productions on some of the Jacks Tracks VA series. This latest offering with the new Burn EP does not disappoint
This limited vinyl press offers 4 distinctive tracks showcasing Alex's ability and talent to seamlessly blend influences from different genres making his production unique creating his staple sound.
First up is Burn which kicks of with tough tech beats quickly followed by some punchy chords before it develops into a beautiful fusion of an energetic original tech house sound merged with what can only be described as a pure soulful touch with the vocal snippet which occasionally and simply sings the the title track lyric (Burn). You could describe it as Tech soul if that were a thing. Punchy, warm and energising with a touch of a romantic notion in there while maintaining the techy roots, you will have this on repeat.
2nd up is Tribespeople, which takes you into Alex's tougher side. Leading with a full on kick and rounded sound, it is perfectly suited for true underground dance floors at the height of their energy, or to wake it up, this track is made for the committed clubber that really likes to go for it ! The track is laced with subtle fills that will jog your memory and take you back to the original days of rave. This is pure underground bliss.
On the flip side, is the popular Punkadelic. This was originally released back in 2022 on Jacks Tracks VA Vol 5 alongside tracks from Terry Francis, Lex & Legit Trip. It was always intended to be a vinyl release, so by popular demand, it is finally going onto wax, where it deserves to be. Punkadelic is dark with a real techno vibe, but even in here, if you have a good ear, you can hear subtle touches of Jazz in the percussion, which yet again showcases Alex Arnout's unique talent to fuse elements of different genres in an especially classy way.
Last but by no means least, is a slightly different flavour with the track Recall. This is a slightly more laid back number, but still punchy with a good chug to it, and keeping within the sounds of the underground. Vocal snippets are spoken and broken throughout the track laced over some ghostly chords accompanied by swinging hats, claps and a fierce bassline.
The scenic artist and multi-instrumentalist CLARAGUILAR moves from performing arts to cinema as a composer and live performer. Over the last few years he has created soundscapes that blend electronics and sampled elements with orchestral arrangements, becoming one of the main names of the Spanish theater scene when it comes to soundtrack and sound design creation.
After her acclaimed EP 'Mystery is All' Lapsus is proud to present 'Figura', CLARAGUILAR's debut album, a heartfelt tribute to her connection with the scenic world, and especially with the operatic universe. The starting point of this project was born with the concept of an "invisible orchestra", an imaginary that aesthetically becomes a reality on stage thanks to the collaboration with the Barcelona studio Oscila, as well as with the help of the stylist Joan Ros, who has been in charge of the costume design.
'Figure' is a space in which electronica, ambient, and chamber-pop coexist; all under an operatic halo full of drama. Once again, the producer locked herself down from late 2022 to the beginning of 2023 to compose all the tracks in a very intimate and closed composition process. The album dives into the melodic landscapes, merged with orchestral samples and chopped voices containing mysterious messages inside.
Each track is a pixelated lightshow and a live electronic instrumentation, presented onstage as an elegant performance with an expansive emotional range
Coming from a diverse background of equal amounts hip hop and rock, the producer behind the alias of nrl:ndr got into dance music late in his musical career. After playing in kraut-oriented bands like So Many Mammals, parts of that group reformed into the live techno outfit Tren Né, with the goal of fusing techno elements with live drums. Playing for illegal raves with a punk-like energy, nrl:ndr has cemented his relationship with his machines in service of the dance floor.
But his solo debut on blundar is quite far removed from that scene. To understand this music, one should be aware of the conditions under which it was manufactured. Reluctant to consider himself an artist in the traditional sense, nrl:ndr makes his music free of anticipation and without apparent goals. To glean into this outré musical space is like putting one's ear to the boarded up windows of the photograph that adorn the front sleeve.
The album makes extensive use of the Roland JV-2080, a sample-based synth rack from 1996 with a distinctly clean sound. Our producer dives deep into the expansion cards (labeled after genres like “Hip Hop” and “World”) for curious and sometimes cheesy samples. But he also forces the JV-2080 to do things which are not its forte, like the arduous task of programming decent kick drums.
Another technique that is testament to his experimental view on music making, is the idea of using sketches of unfinished tracks with different time signatures, and mash them together into something new - of which the results of one of these experiments can be heard on the closing track and its bilingual conversation between ambient and tribal.
Full of stunted rhythms and eerie melodies, the unclassifiable nature of the music of nrl:ndr lies somewhere in the vicinity of IDM, classical avant garde and private press synth. From the epic opening track - echoing the post-kraut drumming style of Michael Shrieve - to juggling with chopped up vocal samples and treading into almost trap-like territories on A4, he crosses into a multitude of genres without getting his hands too dirty with nostalgia.
"I could climb every mountain. Cross the mighty sea. Refuse water from the fountain. To have you here with me. And I know I'll endure it. I'll be waiting at your gate." A liminal love message between Ad & Frankie from W.A.T.. Both folk country'ish songs made in the mid 80's"
“Originally released on the lauded Green Energy label from experimental maverick Henry Kawahara, Forest Jams is thrilled to present the official re-issue of Nami Hotatsu’s sophomore album – revised and re-christened “Ultra Hyper Cosmic Voice” by the artist herself. Equal parts beguiling and inviting, Nami’s mixture of vocals and driving propulsive beats still sound as fresh and as captivating as when they were originally released in 1994.
Now, thirty years later, we invite you to discover Nami’s “perfect world of being” in its totality – awakening yourself to the unknown world inside through what lauded producer Haruomi Hosono hailed as a “shamanistic” vision!” – Hsu Jui-Ting
An adventurous percussion playground Trio inclassable qui explore les rythmes et les sons, Spëcht a ouvert un terrain de jeu singulier autour des percussions en donnant une nouvelle dimension à des instruments acoustiques.
Darbuka, gongs, kalimbas, riqq, doholla, bendirs,... sont à la base de leur univers percussif et mélodique qui oscille entre sons organiques et textures atmosphériques, paysages sonores aux accents de transe et grooves entraînants.
Après la sortie du premier EP "Dawn" sous le nom de groupe "Hands in Motion” », letrio sort « Triptyques » et propose une expérience évolutive en trois temps progressifs.
“The trio includes three of the top percussionists in Belgium Simon Leleux, Robbe Kieckens, Célestin Massot their music is a rich world of stimulating transglobal rhythms and transfixing sounds” World Music Central It's an exciting time for music lovers and fans of innovative sounds, as the band formerly known as 'Hands in Motion' makes a refreshing re-entry into the music world under a new name: Spëcht. With their latest album, 'Triptyques', Spëcht promises an immersive listening experience that retains the deep-rooted essence of the band while exploring new musical horizons.
After a period of artistic development and introspection, Spëcht has decided that the name change is a natural step in their musical journey. The name 'Spëcht' not only reflects their renewed focus and energy but also their commitment to creating music that is both powerful and sophisticated, just like the bird of the same name.
Triptyques' is an album composed of three parts, each highlighting a unique aspect of the band. This conceptual masterpiece takes the listener on a journey through various musical landscapes, from melodic harmonies and huge percussion elements with complex rhythms to bold experimental sounds. Each 'triptych' stands alone as an individual work of art, yet together they form a cohesive and captivating story.
With 'Triptyques', Spëcht demonstrates a maturity and depth in their musical expression that will surprise and charm both loyal fans and new listeners.
Presenting Naural's latest EP by DJ Puma, aka Zefzeed. This collection features three tracks blending uplifting house and techno with smooth baselines and complex percussion. Expect a mix of spicy, sweet, and salty contrasts, along with vivid vocals and unexpected melodic lines. The result is a groovy and danceable journey with a touch of complexity.
Electric Ballroom is proud to present our latest release, Thomas Schumacher’s remix of “Mayday Anthem” by Members of Mayday, the brainchild of Westbam and Klaus Jankuhn. “Mayday Anthem” was originally released in 1992 and quickly became a classic of the genre. The original version still resonates with fans to this day, and we are thrilled to bring a fresh perspective to this beloved track with Thomas’ remix. The remix will premiere at this years Mayday in Dortmund where Thomas will play the much coveted closing set.
The third release on Derek Russo’s own Broad Channel imprint “Special Occasion" EP arrives loaded with a wide palate of club swagger for any hour of the party. “Celestial Machine” is the A1 rough and rumbling trip, steered by a wiggly SH101 bass line and anchored by a thunderous sub bass and tenacious, rattling percussion. A floating pad briefly takes the edge off before lurching back. The sounds here are inspired and shaped by the aching cacophony of city life. “Yearning 4 Love” marries a Detroit inspired motif, with tasteful synth layering and bouncy, off-kilter drum programming. The result is an inquisitive banger, something different for the modern dance floor. On the flip side, the title track ‘Special Occasion’ drops the tempo to a chugging rhythm that swings from a funky break tucked underneath. Deranged piano chords open up to a sinister synth line, jangling guitar and a thick 80s bass line. The final track “Planet Sunset” closes out this EP with a soaring, introspective synth floating on top of a rolling breakbeat groove, disco fed bass work and Juno stabs that resolves into a wave of oozy pad chords - a sure piece for the late night discerning dance floor.
Introducing the latest vinyl gem from Adlibitum Tum Tunes, it's the highly anticipated release number 004 by the dynamic duo, Goose & Hosca. These two maestros aren't just DJs and producers, they're true sonic artisans, crafting mesmerizing soundscapes that resonate with the soul.
Their collaborative project emerged organically, sparked by countless sessions of impromptu jams fueled solely by hardware. From these creative depths sprung a unique sound, one that seamlessly blends elements of acid, electro, and dub into a tapestry of sonic delights. With each track, Goose & Hosca invite listeners on a journey through their musical universe, a realm where the boundaries between genres blur and the energy is palpable.
Track A1, "Gently Weeps," sets the tone with its hypnotic acid groove, while "Lost Hera" on A2 delves deeper into introspective territories with its mesmerizing breaks.
On the B side, "Rinkuuddo" (B2) brings the EP to a crescendo with its infectious energy and intricate rhythms.
And nestled between these originals lies the crown jewel of the EP, the B1 track, "Rinkuuddo (Havantepe Remix)." Renowned dub techno artist Havantepe lends his expert touch to the duo's work, transforming it into a mesmerizing sonic journey that will leave listeners spellbound.
Prepare to be enchanted, dear vinyl enthusiasts, as Goose & Hosca invite you to immerse yourself in their sonic world. This EP is not just a collection of tracks—it's a journey, a testament to the power of music to transcend boundaries and unite souls on the dancefloor.
Adlibitum Tum Tunes is a division of MixCult Records.
Rhythm Cult is back again as last summer hit ‘PPPPP’ from youANDme gets a second special package of reworkings from a band of meticulously selected remixers from around the globe. This time we welcome the likes of Shed (50 Weapons, Ostgut Ton) and Johannes Albert (Live At Robert Johnson, Renate Schallplatten) to the Cult to provide exciting new iterations breathing their unique spirit into an already memorable track.
First up to the platter is raw techno purveyor Shed in his Head High guise, who serves up a faithful but turbo-charged rework. The original’s ludicrously addictive vocal refrain returns, orbiting endlessly across the soundscape while the drums get serious steroid enhancement creating a weighty groove that hits hard. One of Rhythm Cults' favourite house producers Ian Pooley comes next, returning to deliver a sublime raw house re-take as only he knows how. Filtering and manipulating the vocal cuts and old-school stabs, he creates a bumping excursion into the cavernous depths, complete with lush echoing dub chords and jackin’ percussion. One for the house heads and as always, dancefloor dynamite. The Drunken Diva ‘Scream Mix’ shifts down through the gears to create an almost lilting, off-kilter dub-influenced iteration. Perfect for those hot late-night summer dancefloor moments, this cut takes it deep and dark. Finally, Berliner Johannes Albert swoops in to direct the track into a crunchy minimal 808 territory. His rework is complemented by some slick vocal chopping and frequency-shifted segments elevating the track to a new plateau.
Another fine series of remixes ensures ‘PPPPP’ will be lighting up dancefloors this
summer season and beyond. Rhythm Cult continues its mission to showcase some
of the most talented and forward-thinking producers out there.
The renowned Disco Dandies have made a triumphant return, emerging from their creative haven at the Old Course of the St. Andrews Golf Club. Following the success of their previous chart-topping hit, “Inside Your Love” (2 People), which went to number one TWICE at Traxsource, they present their latest offering, a rework of the Miami T.K. Disco classic by Tamiko Jones, “Let It Flow.”
This new release showcases a heightened tempo and a fresh interpretation that irresistibly beckons the dance floor. The Disco Dandies, known for their meticulous attention to detail, have patiently crafted a musical gem that has received the coveted final seal of approval. Now, in the year 2024, they are ready to unveil their creation to the world.
n stark contrast to the hurried pace of some, the Disco Dandies adhere to a philosophy where haste has no place; instead, they embrace patience as the key to their artistic process. The anticipation surrounding their latest work has been met with great reward, and the wait for this musical delight has proven to be truly worthwhile.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the infectious rhythms and the Japanese, Cherokee soulful voice of Tamiko Jones and the Disco Dandies.
Companion’s fourth full-length excursion comes from Naarm newcomer Declan. Following the release of his debut single Aqueduct on CMPN003, Declan returns to the label with an entrancing 5-track EP that gently unwinds through boundless, sun-drenched dreamscapes. Awash in the golden hues of 90s chill-out tent culture, Soul Arch embarks on a trance-inducing trip that fuses new age influences, balearic spirit and feverish, hypnotic repetitions.
The release gracefully shifts between moments of restraint and hidden depths, soaring to elevated and distant peaks. The effect is expansive, characterised by protean vocal samples, pulsing pitter-pat percussion and weightless pads as though gently breathing. Suited for late-nights beneath dust shrouded stars and the peaceful mornings after, Soul Arch is best listened from start to finish, with one eye cast towards the sunrise.
Bright Magus is an instrumental quintet born under the influence of Miles Davis' metaphysical electric period, a visceral and magical passion always shared by Giovanni Calella and Leziero Rescigno. Davis' most eclectic and psychedelic period, that of recordings for Columbia from 1969 throughout the 70s. Albums like “In a Silent Way”, “Bitches Brew”, “A tribute to Jack Johnson”, “On The Corner”, “Big Fun” made them immerse themselves in one of the most fascinating experiments that Miles has generated in his long and prolific career. We are talking about music that is difficult to fit into one genre, in these masterpieces you can feel the contemporaneity of that historical period. Electric Jazz, Funk, Psychedelia, Rock, Afrobeat, Ambient, drag you into something absolutely new, mysterious and sometimes furious. Just a year ago Giovanni and Leziero took courage and started recruiting musicians who had to have the right attitude and knowledge. Guitarist Alberto Turra was the first to be interested in the project, then came Mauro Tre, pianist and keyboard player and Gianni Sansone on trumpet. All seduced by Miles and in love with that magical period.
Before making the first album "Jungle Corner", the band did some live shows to amalgamate all the ideas that came out during the improvs recorded by Tullio Treffiletti in the trumpeter's home studio (later baptized Selim Studio). At the Isola Studio in Manuel Agnelli's space and with the help of the very talented Guido Andreani, Bright Magus then recorded in three days live all the material which in the meantime had been enriched with more structured melodic themes and less casual drafts . Mauro's contribution was very important in this. The finalization of the album was then managed by them in the small "Diabolicus Studio" taking care of editing, post production and mixing.
Guest on the album in two songs, Enrico Gabrielle of Calibro 35 on flute and clarinet.
The cover design is a work by Barba Ughi alias BAX.
Faith presents the second volume of ‘Ain’t That A Groove’, a series of 12” pressings collating current and forthcoming productions and remixes from the London label. Originally launched in 1999 by Boy’s Own legend Terry Farley alongside Stuart Patterson and Dave Jarvis, the cult label relaunched in 2020 after renewed interest from house heads and Faith fanzine readers. Opening up this collection, one of Chicago's finest house producers and songwriters Robert Owens and his 2023 collab with Nolan ‘I’ll Be Your Friend’, a bona fide house classic reignited for audiences of today. Hilit Kolet’s ‘POV Siren’ follows, a stomping club cut that received support from the likes of Carl Cox and TSHA. The four-track press also includes New Zealand talent Philippa’s remix of ‘The Night’, originally by Pete Heller & Terry Farley as Roach Motel, as well as Terry’s latest release with frequent collaborator Wade Teo spotlighting Kameelah Waheed on vocals with the TDK 90 Dope Mix of ‘Dancing After Dark’.
«The almighty golden vhs tape has been stolen !!!"
An enigmatic lady contacts our heroes, claiming she saw the tape
At an illegal auction in istanbul. The adventure begins, and will lead them through Egypt, India, UK, to run against the evil ancestral cult before it uses the golden tape to summon dark forces... »
3 years ago, Videoclub concept album was released, using 70s movie soundtracks memories as an inspiration to create original compositions. It met warm reception all around the world. Beatsqueeze records is proud to announce Videoclub II this year, an ambitious sequel full of rich dusty theatrical arrangements. Take some pop-corn and enjoy the musical narration.
Yann Kornowicz, composer.
Starting from classical music by learning violin in his childhood, he began his film music obsession during the 90s, and used the piano as a tool to decompose the scores airing on tv. Many years later he continues his mono-maniac exploration through his albums and through works for tv, platforms, documentaries or advertising.
Dan Amozig, multi-instrumentalist.
After learning guitar in his teenage years , he graduated the cim jazz school in paris in the 2010s. He is touring with several projects since then, and focuses on live music. He recently added horns to his scope
To enrich his beloved musical territories : jazz and hip hop.
Originally released in 1993 on DJ Phantasy’s Liquid Wax label, it has now been repressed in conjunction with Vinyl Fanatiks on coloured vinyl.
One of Phantasy’s most sought after releases from back in the day, engineered by Alex Reece in Jack Smooth’s studio.
As always with anything on Liquid Wax, these tracks are big club releases as Phantasy was testing them out at all the raves in the early 90’s. But Phantasy always has a trick up his sleeve that makes his music sound incredibly original and still fresh to this day, 31 years later!
Originally released in 1993 on DJ Phantasy’s Liquid Wax label, it has now been repressed in conjunction with Vinyl Fanatiks on coloured vinyl.
This is one of Phantasy’s many aliases. ‘Get On The Floor’ is a jungle-techno stomper, created in the same studio that invented that genre. Where as ‘Welcome To The Underworld’ has very strong Liquid Aliens vibes about it.
As always with anything on Liquid Wax, these tracks are big club releases as Phantasy was testing them out at all the raves in the early 90’s. But Phantasy always has a trick up his sleeve that makes his music sound incredibly original and still fresh to this day, 31 years later!
Originally released in 1993 on DJ Phantasy’s Liquid Wax label, it has now been repressed in conjunction with Vinyl Fanatiks on coloured vinyl.
One of DJ Phantasy’s many aliases alongside his pal Robert Chimiel. The lead tune is a total rave anthem – hands to the lazers business! The flipside has a such a sweet chugging bassline that takes you on a trip!
As always with anything on Liquid Wax, these tracks are big club releases as Phantasy was testing them out at all the raves in the early 90’s. But Phantasy always has a trick up his sleeve that makes his music sound incredibly original and still fresh to this day, 31 years later!
Introducing the limited 7" re-release of the single by the legendary Bay Area group, Liason. Led by Morris 'Skid' Clay, Liason made their mark on the music scene with their distinctive sound and unforgettable performances. Recorded at Freeway Studios in Oakland back in 1977, this single captures the essence of the era and the spirit of the band.
Originally released on their independent imprint, 'A.L.C.' - named after three of the group's members astrological signs: Aquarius, Libra, and Capricorn - this single quickly became a cherished gem among fans and collectors alike. Now, decades later, it's being brought back to life for a whole new generation to enjoy.
CCCP Edits, the vanguard of experimental music, unveils its latest sonic odyssey with the release of a mesmerizing vinyl EP. Immerse yourself in a world of unparalleled soundscapes, where every groove tells a story and every beat pulses with innovation. Limited edition. Order yours now!
Yours truly, ChatGPT.
P.S.: We're aware we messed up the cat. no, but no biggie, except for Discogs nerds.
Matthew Halsall announces a limited-edition Vinyl only pressing of Bright Sparkling Light, a luminous three track EP featuring some of his most gorgeous compositions. Originally conceived as a tour only exclusive, Bright Sparkling Light was recorded alongside, last year’s expansive beguiling long-player An Ever Changing View and draws on the same trademark blend of jazz, electronica, global and spiritual jazz influences. The original pressing sold-out on Matthew’s EU and UK tour last October and November and so many people got in touch with us here at Gondwana asking how they could get a copy that we decided to make a further 2000 copies available for retail and online sales. The title track is a hypnotic meditation built on one of the lushest loops Halsall has ever created and featuring stellar work from Halsall and flautist Matt Cliffe. Newborough Forest is a brisk, uplifting composition celebrating one of Halsall’s favourite landscapes and the wonderous Tide and the Moon paints a sonic picture of late-night waters and deep mindfulness and features some of Matt Cliffe’s most beautiful tenor playing. Like An Ever Changing View, Bright Sparkling Light comes in a package as striking as the music, with handmade fonts designed by Ian Anderson and a beautifully realised embossed artwork that offers a perfect compliment to the LP. Strictly limited and featuring a download code, Bright Sparkling Light will not be re-pressed.
Record Kicks presents Keep It To Yourself, the new album by premier Dutch soul band The Tibbs, out next January 26th.
Dutch vintage soul combo The Tibbs are back with their highly anticipated new album Keep It to Yourself, to be released on LP, CD and digital format next January 26th on Milan-based label Record Kicks. Produced by Paul Willemsen (Michelle David) and mastered in Nashville by soul veteran Bob Olhsson, who used to cut vinyl for Motown back in the day, the new album Keep It to Yourself is the band's third Long Play. It contains 12 fresh 'n vibrant tracks that once again will take you back to the golden days of soul music. Prepare to be swept away on a groovy, soulful odyssey with one the most sensational and enchanting soul bands from the Netherlands!
From the very first note, The Tibbs' musical prowess exudes a soulful, funky energy that is nothing short of mind-blowing. Among the 12 new tracks of Keep it To Yourself, we find the first single "Ain't It Funny", a high-energy stomper that sets the tone for the entire album, the New Orleans funk inspired "Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks" and "Chicken Bones, "In Orbit", an emotional and heartfelt love ballad that allows the velvety vocals of singer Roxanne to take center stage or the northern soul belter "Give Me A Reason".
Lyrically, Keep It to Yourself is a poetic wonderland, delving into the depths of love, heartache, but also social issues and the need to preserve the world we're in. Roxanne's vocals, rich and velvety, take you on a euphoric journey through the peaks and valleys of human emotion. The harmonious blend of the horn section weaves an exhilarating tapestry of sound that can only be described as a symphonic supernova. The rhythm section is an unstoppable force, driving each track with a pulsating groove that is pure sonic adrenaline. Keep It to Yourself is a true tour de force, a symphony of soul that will leave you awe-inspired, foot-tapping, heart-soaring, and utterly enthralled.
Based around Amsterdam, The Tibbs is a group of seasoned musicians who draw inspiration from the timeless music of the 1960s, channeling the emotional depth and raw authenticity of that era's classics. Led by their charismatic female vocalist and backed by a powerhouse lineup of drums, guitar, bass, organ and a three-piece horn section, they have been wowing audiences with their live performances. They took off in 2012 working right from the start with producer Paul Willemsen (Beans & Fatback, Lefties Soul Connection, Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions). In 2016, their first LP Takin' Over marked their debut with Milan-based imprint Record Kicks. In late 2018, singer Elsa Bekman decided to focus on a solo career and The Tibbs duly began their search for a truly worthy successor, bringing astonishing vocalist Roxanne Hartog and the band together for the first time with their sophomore album Another Shot Fired, released in November 2020. Now, with their third album Keep It to Yourself, a testament to their dedication to keeping the soulful spirit alive, The Tibbs are once more ready for lift off.
Two longstanding electronic legends, Steve Bug reunites with frequent collaborator Cle for the three-track ‘It Just Happened EP’ on Nu Groove.
The German tastemaker and Poker Flat label boss has helped define a plethora of electronic sub genres through his modern releases and expansive DJ sets. From early LPs ‘Volksworld’ and ‘Da Minimal Funk’, to later works ‘Traffic Signs’ and ‘Never Ending Winding Roads’, Bug’s futuristic vision is apparent throughout his experimental releases.
Joined once again by Cle, a fellow veteran of the German rave scene, the pair return to the cult NYC label with three striking originals following previous release ‘Let It Go / Suitcase In A Box’. The EP’s lead, ‘It Just Happened’ features breathy synths and acidic loops that harken back to an era of underground house, immediately nostalgic yet forward thinking in its technique.
‘Crew Thing’ and ‘House Music Transcends’ follow suit, both teeming with energy as the two producers show off their unique creative process through sound.
Grammy award-winning DJ and producer Purple Disco Machine has shared his latest single ‘Beat of Your Heart’ in collaboration with Icelandic artist ÁSDÍS.
Combining Purple Disco Machine’s trademark disco infused sound with ÁSDÍS’s magnetic vocals, the high-energy track is laden with danceable grooves, big synths and catchy melodies. The accompanying music video, directed by NDVD, brings all of the joy of the dancefloor to life intertwining love, freedom and fantasy.
Speaking about the track, Purple Disco Machine says: “I was sent the vocals by ÁSDÍS and I immediately fell in love with her voice. I wanted to release the track as a single and we later re-recorded it together in my studio in Dresden, which was really great.”
Delve into "About Us," the latest offering from Costin Rp under b/plr. records. This minimalistic yet profound album showcases three captivating tracks: the introspective title piece "About Us," its transformative counterpart "About Us (SIT Remix)," and the evocative "Bad Waters." Each track embodies the essence of minimal house, delivering a sonic experience that's both complex and elegantly simple. Perfect for the connoisseur of refined rhythms, "About Us" is not just an album – it's a journey through the subtle nuances of modern underground music.
Now in its tenth year, Frankfurt-based record label Die Orakel has earned itself a strong catalogue of classy releases in a distinct sonic and visual attitude, its latest being a compilation called Braindance.
A fair assumption about Braindance as a genre could be, that it's rather in the zone of kaleidoscopic and whimsical quirktronica, less about IDM's futurist tropes. From Die Orakel's point of view, its very own Braindance compilation marks the label's tenth anniversary by releasing an intense listener's atlas, to its own and their creative collaborators' musical slant of mind.
While much could be said about spectral traces of a leftfield past, nostalgia isn't heard anywhere. The more you listen to this selection, the deeper the tracks plug into your brain—stretching from ethereal harmonic licks rippling with fragile glitches, bleepy to bass-heavy electroid steppers of any BPM range, to abstract-scientific neo-modular artistry.
Die Orakel's Braindance transmission can be had as a 15-track digi-release, as well as a 4-track vinyl EP. Pick either for your library of the future. The Braindance compilation will be released on 16 February 2024.
Plot Zero is the second album by the late West Coast composer, healer, and medium Pauline Anna Strom. First released in 1983, Strom envisioned the album as a “mind
trip without chemicals,” utilizing boundless imagination to cover a canvas with brilliant synthesized shapes and tones. The pieces on Plot Zero flow freely and infinitely, evoking a transportative momentum with Strom’s distinctive synthesizers soaring across infinite horizons into vast, colorful nebulas. Restored and mixed from the original reels by Marta Salogni, and newly remastered, this is the album’s first ever official reissue, and the definitive edition of a visionary statement.
California's James Bernard is a much-loved regular on this label as well as being a veteran of the wider ambient scene who has been hard at it for more than three decades. His latest outing on Past Inside The Present with Anthene (aka Brad Deschamps of Toronto) is Soft Octaves, an album that finds them crafting a series of sounds using electric six-string bass.
It has a huge range from the deepest depths to the wispiest of highs and each of the tracks here was recorded in one single take. The results are spellbinding indeed and the range of the bass's sonic ability is astonishing as it sounds at times like a cello, at others woodwind and is always intriguing.
“The Castle II” is a collection of works composed and recorded by the Japanese artist Tomo Akikawabaya between 1986 and 1989. An album filled with obscure atmospheres, hypnotic rhythms, electronic melodies, experimental interludes and the unique and mesmerizing voice of Akikawabaya.
Since the release of the album “The Castle I” in 1984, Tomo Akikawabaya became disappointed with the music scene in Japan and thought that the only way to continue as a musician was to release his music abroad. After finish to record some new songs, he embarked on an adventurous trip to London in order to look for an opportunity for a new release. Unfortunately, after three months and despite meeting many artists and important people in the music industry, luck was not on Akikawabaya’s side and with time running out he had to return to Japan without a concrete proposal. In the following years, although he continued to work with his long-time partner Takaaki Han-ya with a project called Beata Beatrix, he never published anything and later focused to other activities. It was until 2015 that the New York label Minimal Wave released “The Invitation of The Dead” compiling songs from “The Castle” (1984) and “Anju” (1985), both originally released on his own label Castle Records. Tomo Akikawabaya is currently working under the moniker of Th, together with his wife Rinko, on a project called The Future Eve. They released an album in 2019 with the collaboration of the legendary Robert Wyatt.
Hizou Deep Rooted Music is thrilled to introduce its latest vinyl release, featuring a carefully curated selection of top-notch electronic music that's destined to delight audiophiles.
On the A-side of this vinyl gem, you'll be enchanted by the sonic artistry of Huerta, as his track takes you on a mesmerizing musical journey that embodies his distinctive vision. Following suit on the same side, you'll encounter Jacksonville, whose music effortlessly immerses you in a captivating world of entrancing rhythms and enveloping melodies.
Flipping the record over to the B-side, prepare to be captivated by the talents of Nico Lahs, operating under his NLXLB alias. His production is nothing short of a sonic masterpiece, seamlessly melding eclectic elements into a mesmerizing sonic tapestry.
To round off this sonic odyssey, we bring you a track from 100 Hz that's guaranteed to elevate the energy on any dance floor with its potent and infectious rhythms.
This vinyl is an essential addition to any discerning music collection, offering a chance to own these remarkable tracks in a physical format. Reach out to us for more information and secure your order before these limited-edition gems disappear from the shelves!
New tape from Gabber Eleganza's Never Sleep imprint.
This time its a live recording of Drum & Bass legend / Critical Sound boss Kasra at Fabric with MC's GQ and Mantmast.
The tape is in honour of Shaun Roberts, the sadly departed Fabric booker who was a pivotal figure in the UK's electronic scene. All proceeds go to Bowel Cancer UK
"Fabric played a huge role in shaping me as a music fan and years later became the London home for me and my label. This wouldn’t have happened without the help and support of Shaun Roberts, who left us far to soon in Dec of 2022 after an 18 month battle with colon cancer.
When the Never Sleep crew asked me to contribute to their mix series I knew id like to honour Shaun and help raise some money for Bowel Cancer UK.
Without Shaun and people like him taking chances on people like me the music landscape would look very different.
This is mix is taken from the Critical Sound 15th birthday event in 2017.
Meis heeft geleefd, en daar deelt zij met haar debuutalbum het eerste echte deel van. Na het uitbrengen van haar EP 'Een' werd het soloproject van Aysha de Groot omschreven als 'betoverend, met kleine liedjes over grote onderwerpen.'
In het nieuwe hyper-persoonlijke 'Zwart/Wit' zoekt ze daarin nog verder de grenzen op. 'Hoe oncomfortabel en toch troostend kan ik deze plaat maken?' aldus de Groot. Het kenmerkende, warme, intieme, maar toch schurende geluid waar Meis zichzelf mee op de kaart heeft gezet, is nu nóg directer komt nóg dichterbij en klinkt nóg rauwer.
In 'Zwart/Wit', doet de Groot een boekje open over een periode van ziekte, trauma, herstel, kracht en de zoektocht naar zelfliefde. Het conceptuele album vertelt één verhaal. Geopereerd worden, een totale maagresectie, uit voorzorg. Niet jong ziek willen worden zoals haar moeder en oma voor haar, maar wel moeten leren leven zonder maag. De twee weken die Meis in het ziekenhuis heeft moeten doorbrengen waren zwaar en traumatisch. Om de tijd door te komen, heeft zij een dagboek aan teksten geschreven, die later uitgewerkt zijn tot dit album. Ze pakt 3 periodes: Het toeleven naar de operatie, de periode in het ziekenhuis zelf en het herstel daarna. 'Zwart/Wit' bestaat uit 11 tracks, deels licht, positief en hoopvol, deels donker, zwaar en een stuk harder. Zowel tekstueel als productioneel speelt Meis met het zwart en het wit. Samen met producer en muzikant Nicky Hustinx dook zij in het afgelegen Den Dolder de studio in, om de songs uit te bouwen. Geïnspireerd door de directheid van Phoebe Bridgers, de intieme vocalen van Dodie, het rauwe geluid van Big Thief en de donkere en minimalistische producties van James Blake, heeft Meis de ideale manier gevonden om haar verhaal te vertellen, volledig in haar eigen stijl. Het is geen popmuziek, maar toch is haar muziek herkenbaar, maar weet je niet precies met wie ze te vergelijken valt.
New Parisian label, Disques Messager, presents its new and second release. As its name suggests, the label has a simple leitmotiv: to place itself among the best messengers for rarities and sought-after gems of the international rare groove. A mission which began like fire last year with a 7inch reissue release including two Brazilian Disco bangers by Cristina Camargo. For this second efforts, the label doesn’t deviate from the artistic and quality path taken, however also making quite a U-turn, this time presenting 2 underrated kind of musical UFO, both from the French scene.
Not many info can be found about Yoanson & Karamie, two young artists from the French African diaspora, who randomly met with Nessim Saroussi and his label Ness Music in the late 80s. Nessim himself doesn’t remind much about the 2 guys, except that he quickly offered to produce them, which resulted in their only EP release, Kalimba (1988). Part of this EP, “African Leaders” is a stunning track melting Afro-Tropical percussions, Disco bass, Early-Electro beats and Leftfield vocals in a way that could remind of Doctor L or Arthur Russel productions.
On the contrary, Philippe de Lacroix-Herpin (aka Prof Jah Pinpin) has a long musical career started in the mid-70s and became a renowned saxophonist playing and recording for many famous French acts such as Jean-Jacques Goldman, Alain Chamfort, FFF, or even rap band NTM. In 1994, he moved definitely to the Reunion Island where he quickly launched the Prof Jah Pinpin 4tet, in his own words willing to play “free/funk/jazz/rock/tropical” music… Quite a vast and large musical tag, but which immediately make sense when listening to the surprising “The Final Bird” track. Only released as CD in 1996, this instrumental production has indeed a unique sound and flavor mixing all kinds of elements together (even samples of Weather Report).
Well as you can understand, words are not the best way to describe these 2 hidden treasures, so we strongly recommend the spinning to make your own view!
Immerse yourself in pulsating beats and refined taste with our latest Vinyl "Veinylpower." Featuring artists such as Monika Ross, Adine Frost, Ema Remedi, and Anaid, the musical journey spans from Deep House to Garage.
The design crafted by artist Kristina Supernova making your electronic music experience even more immersive.
For every record sold, a portion will be donated to SLOWODI - Solidarity with Women in Need, offering support to women facing challenging situations.
"Veinylpower" marks Veinyl Berlin's third groundbreaking release, celebrating women, the diversity of electronic music, and contributing to a meaningful cause.
Stefan Schwander of course is a man of many names and visions (such as Harmonious Thelonious, Repeat Orchestra and A Rocket in Dub) and here's his latest one: While My Sequencer Gently Bleeps comes up with "OK" on new Hamburg-based label Unsure. As While My Sequencer Gently Bleeps Schwander strips down his equipment even further and refines his longstanding idea of creating reduced minimalistic tracks radiating warmth, digging deep and delivering the groove.
The five tracks on "OK" all follow one basic flow: big basslines, elegant chords and transparent arrangements, rhythms as compelling as unobtrusive. Schwanders love for dub shimmers through the tracks, just as his pop-trained flair for seductive harmonies.
Beautiful groovy music from Düsseldorf to the world. On and on and on.
The Swedish trio ITALOVE consists of Dr Mateo, Blix and LaRoxx and it’s a result of the shared passion and sympathy for Italo Disco and HI-NRG. During the first test sessions in the studio, the song “L’Amour” was created and sent to Flashback Records. The demo was immediately signed and soon released on vinyl. Subsequent singles repeated the success of the first one and 5 years the Swedish trio released their first album. It is full of electronics, sounds borrowed from Italo disco, euro dance and hi-nrg mixed with the Swedish approach to creating hits.
Wade "Jimmy" Dyce was an original member of Cultural Roots. He was a vocalist and played a key role in shaping the sound of the group. Cultural Roots emerged as a four-part harmony group for producer Donovan Germain in the late 1970s, releasing « Revolutionary Sounds » and « Mr Bossman » which counts among ‘Jah Shaka's favourite tunes’. Then they released « Hell A Go Pop », one of the Greensleeves label’s lesser-known classics.
In the early 80's, Wade Dyce produced alone three songs at Chris Stanley's famous Music Mountain studio. Wade Dayce surrounds himself with the best musicians of the time, namely the Revolutionaries, but does not remember the exact formation apart from Sly Dunbar on drums and Bongo Herman on percussion. « Humble », « Money Mare » and « Hide & Seek » are three forgotten songs that can be described as killer roots from the middle of the 80s and which you can (re)discover again through this reissue on the original Moving On label. For this release, Jamwax worked with Parade Studio for this original and unique Disco 45 cover graphic creation.
Today, Wade, now sixty-seven years old, is living in Salem, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 2010 as a mental-health specialist. Long live to the Cultural Roots !
Lee Burton makes his debut on Up The Stuss with ‘Sinewaves’, a five-track collection of expansive house cuts representing his impactful sound.
With music released via Dorian Paic’s renowned raum…musik through to John Dimas’ Elephant Moon and Berlin’s Taverna Tracks, Greek DJ/producer Lee Burton has been a firm favourite for those in the know, having been embedded within the underground minimal/house scene for the past decade. A constant when it comes to providing ‘secret gems’, with his records in rotation amongst the record bags of leading names across the globe, Burton’s talent as a DJ has also seen him grace legendary parties and institutions from NYC’s ReSolute to Berlin’s Club der Visionaere. Next up, his latest studio voyage brings an impressive label debut on Chris Stussy’s Up The Stuss, opening the imprint’s 2024 schedule in style.
From the acid-electro fusion of opener Sinewaves’ and the breezy tones of ‘Burning’, through to the up-tempo and intoxicating sci-fi sonics of ‘ITICF’ and the modulated, electro-funk of ‘Love Motion’, each track provides a unique slice of Burton’s vast sound palette, crafting an EP that covers all hours of the night. Sprinkle in the digital bonus ‘Oxytocin Overdose’, contrasting squelchy tones and classic chords with that infectious topline, and it’s another must-have record on the imprint.
The late great Canadian pianist Glenn Gould made two significant and highly acclaimed recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations, the first in 1955 when he was just twenty- two, presented here on 180g white vinyl, and the second a quarter of a century later in 1981 when he was nearing the end of his life.
Both recordings stand as benchmarks of the repertoire, offering fascinating insights into the music and Gould's approach to it. These recordings have never been out of print - a mark of their status and the respect they command in the canon of Bach recordings.
A1 Lose It All… an 18 minute journey of epic proportions, crescendo after crescendo with high percussion sounds and chest pounding drum grooves. Medu’s signature low end control that rumbles under the swinging key rhythm which dominates the vibe is absolutely mesmerising. The finishing touch to this late night dance floor heavyweight sound is the combination of Odille Lima’s chopped up ad-libs, harmonies and story telling voice that keeps you moving with wonder. This track is laced with energy and excellence.
The B side comprises of 2 break beat inspired tracks that are mysterious and full of heavy hitting percussion, dusty grooves and dark driving basslines. Odille is on both tracks with her unique vocals that fit perfectly with this underground sound. A must EP have for any DJ or collector.
EVOLV is a visionary window into the mind of Dubfire, the journey of the ‘hybrid’ being and its evolution. Last year in October, an 11-track debut album was released on his long-standing SCI+TEC imprint. And now, just over a year later, Grammy award winning producer Dubfire returns to that sonic discourse, drafting in an impressive array of names to re-interpret the material, and accompanied by Dubfire's new audio-visual EVOLV show which picked up where the critically acclaimed electronic performance experience HYBRID had left off.
The eclectic package will include such notables as Glaskin, Arjun Vagale, Nadia Struiwigh, Mathimidori (dub alias of Mathias Kaden), Maral, Decka, Carl Craig, Truncate, Drumcell, Chris Liebing, Radio Slave and Luke Slater who have all given the original music in their own unique style.
With a career spanning over 3 decades, Dubfire has achieved global success as an artist with relentless drive, talent, and intuition. Pioneering commercial notoriety came initially as one half of the Grammy Award-winning (2001) duo Deep Dish, before embarking on a truly groundbreaking solo career in 2007. A career filled with timeless tracks include his early works, ‘RibCage’ (2007), ‘Emissions' (2007), ‘Roadkill’ (2007) and the highly acclaimed ‘Grindhouse’ (2009) remix from Radio Slave which led to a host of other notable projects over the years.
Collaborative work highlights include projects with Miss Kitten, Luke Slater, Flug, and Oliver Huntemann, as well as co-producing two songs on Underworld’s Barking album. A true artist, he has always been heavily invested in exploring performance technology, unveiled to wide praise with his HYBRID live show. A two-year world tour commenced in 2015 and was followed by his retrospective album, A Decade Of Dubfire (2017), a celebration of his immense output during the first 10 years of solo artist stardom. EVOLV is Dubfire’s debut solo artist album.
Rudimentary Music garners worldwide high praise with their first release. A strong, fluid and very well-rounded EP with something for every electronic dance fan. The Barcelona based butItalian born artist Deiv, sets the foundation and tone with the stunning 'Paranoik Android' EP forthe fledgling label whose everyday life revolves around and embodies the synergy and spirit of dance music culture. 'Take control of your shit' is the first cut and is the ideal smooth late night electro jam. A sexy, melodic deep machine groove that is nothing short of pure class. Thishighly addictive track is sure to get many repeat plays. To complete the A-side is the technostormer 'Technology'. A body grabbing bassline that will surely get everyone's attention. Thiswicked,robotic workhorse is guaranteed to move the main room by any DJ who selects it.Inspired by the label's search for music that fits every part of life, this track encapsulates thepower of techno in the late night. The reverse side showcases the title track 'Paranoik Android'.It rides a strong balance of house and funk sentiments for the primetime slot on the dancefloor.The killer acid line, island percussion and blips and bleeps, makes this a great ying and yang of futuristic and retro sounds. The title track, it stands out from the crowd but here in this EP, it blends perfectly into the wide array of vibes blossoming here. 'Dolphins' closes out the EP inelegance. With the soothing almost aquatic melody notes it exudes the perfect vibe to drift away your cares to. Overall, this is a very versatile EP with a track for every emotion and time during a night out with dance music
Under meters of concrete in central Cairo, a relentless buzz rebels and forms a melody. A tired man tunes his machines to catch a snatch of it, and accidentally creates a playground where these abandoned sounds can flourish. They develop a sense of humor and an acid tongue. A few children with bent ears find their way to an alley with an entrance to the playground. They would later describe what they heard as a delicious hybrid: one part cream, one part bubble gum. So, bend your ears and maybe you'll hear it too.
Hilit Kolet debuts on Rekids with ‘Hot Mess’, including remixes from the legendary Mike Dunn.
Following her remix of Terry Farley & Wade Teo’s ‘Why We Dance’, Hilit steps up to the Rekids plate with her debut EP for Radio Slave’s label with her single ‘Hot Mess’. A relentlessly driving drum machine werqout, ‘Hot Mess’ sees her masterfully mixing compulsive, marching rhythms with a fiercely impassioned spoken word vocal.
With added raw jackin’ energy in the ‘Even Hotter Mix’, this has the kind of late night runway energy that demands the
Sound Factory be rebuilt. On the B-side, Chicago house legend Mike Dunn’s remix of ‘Hot Mess’ is a deep groove that adds a wriggling earworm bassline, while still embracing the enchanting vocal of the original.
Hilit Kolet has been an integral part of London’s house scene ever since she started slinging vinyl at Soho’s legendary Black Market Records. Her distinctive, energetic DJ style then established her behind the decks everywhere, from high fashion shows to some of the most celebrated underground clubs in London. 2023 saw Hilit going global with shows from Ibiza to Shanghai via Printworks, Warehouse Project and Ministry of Sound.
Her summer single on the Faith imprint ‘POV Siren’ has been embraced by DJs as diverse as Robert Hood and Paul Woolford, and her edit of Laurent Garnier’s ‘Crispy Bacon’ was rinsed by many from Carl Cox to Patrick Topping, before seeing an official release by Garnier himself. ‘Hot Mess’ sets Hilit Kolet up as a serious name to watch out for in 2024.
Step into the sonic universe of NIKI IL B with the latest "Parkplesso EP." This remarkable release is the culmination of NIKI IL B's dedication to electronic music since 1995. The EP pays homage to the golden era of electronic music, featuring four tracks crafted exclusively with analog and modular instruments, capturing the warm depth and richness of analog sound.
"Parkplesso EP" is more than just tracks; it's an immersive journey reflecting NIKI IL B's passion for electronic music. Each track is carefully crafted, showcasing meticulous attention to detail and delivering a high-quality sonic experience.
As a celebration of authentic electronic music, "Parkplesso EP" adds an exciting chapter to RoundQubeMusik's renowned catalog. Don't miss the chance to own this extraordinary release. Purchase now and embark on a unique sonic adventure with "Parkplesso EP" by NIKI IL B.
It's been 40 years since Michal Turtle released his seminal, ground-breaking album "Music From The Living Room" into the world and promptly disappeared back into the aether.
An extremely obscure cult classic known only to deep diggers and aficionados of the finest order, it wasn't until Music From Memory reissued some of the tracks from it via retrospective compilations of Turtle's unreleased music almost 30 years later that his name become more widely known and a new generation were able to discover the artist's unique and pioneering style of experimental electronic music production, the majority of it very much ahead of its time, and to this day, still timeless.
Invisible Inc contacted Turtle in the summer of 2023 about releasing something else by him and it was during this exchange of emails that ideas were expressed about releasing not simply a straightforward reissue of "Music From The Living Room" to mark its 40th anniversary (the album has never been reissued in full) but rather a re-imagined/re-constructed take on the album bringing contemporary techniques, styles and newly recorded vocal and instrument parts into the mix and breathing new life into these wonderful compositions.
Collaborators old and new were brought into the studio and the songs re-created from the ground up. Familiar songs like "Are You Psychic?" and "Village Voice" get overhauled and echo remnants of their original counterparts but simultaneously sound like completely new tracks. The always mesmerising "Phantoms of Dreamland" is represented through a live recording at Café Oto featuring original album vocalist Lucianne Lasalle and regular collaborator HOVE on electronics. The remaining tracks, however, will be completely new to the ears of most people, never having been reissued or heard in these new forms ever before.
Regardless, whether in some way familiar or not, these hypnotic and repetitive pieces of beautiful sound art, all very different in style from one another, have an entirely new identity that even diehard devotees of the originals will fall in love with.
“Holy shit. This record is amazing. 'Are You Psychic?' is really something” dj_2button Dummy Hand / Weirdos Inc.
“What a record!” Cosmo Vitelli I'm A Cliché
“Amazing release. Probably your best release yet! Does everything an amazing record should and more...” Alexis Le-Tan Oddity Radio / Full Circle / Offen Music
Mong Tong's latest album, "Tao Fire 道火", not only continues the idea behind their previous work, "Indies 印", but also incorporates more local elements such as gamelan music, phin guitar, tabla drums, and Taiwan sisomi.
While sampling more sounds from the street of Southeast Asia, including weddings, funerals, and traditional celebrations, Mong Tong again explores different folk sounds around Austronesia. Different to their last Guruguru Brain release "Mystery 秘神", "Tao Fire 道火" will take us to a land that is both familiar and fresh. Feel the hot, the crowd, humidity, and ecstasy. This time, welcome to Mong Tong's subtropical world.
Here comes the fourth release by Almería-based electronica artist Mynationshit titled ‘The Tycoon’. This is another addition to the independent label ‘Waste Editions’, run by Mynationshit’s frontman Carlos Martín along with his brother Ale. This record highlights Martin’s latest musical touches. Its melancholic undertones juxtaposed with humble romanticism will inspire you. Indubitably, this Spanish artist’s distinguishable nature mixes elements of Electro, Dark Wave, Synth-Pop and Post-Punk. Picture Johnny Cash and Peter Murphy singing catchy tunes to each other while on a cosmic journey to an unknown planet where synths and prose accompany their melodies.
Fate is a funny old thing. One day in 2011, DJ/producer Tom Trago found himself sharing a train journey with Steven Van Lummel, a DIY musician, artist and co-founder of PIP, an underground nightclub and cultural hub in The Hague. Over the course of a rambling, open-ended conversation, the idea of making music together came up; a few weeks later, Trago travelled to van Lummel’s place – a former industrial unit that was now home to a rotating cast of artists and musicians – and didn’t leave for a month.
Cossetted away from the outside world in van Lummel’s loft, with multi-instrumentalists Janneke Nijhuijs and Wieger Hoogendorp joining them to create a musical four-piece, MEGA WEGA was born. Over the course of four weeks, the quartet embarked on an almost continuous creative session punctuated only by impromptu parties and mixing sessions. Life-long bonds were made and over 70 tracks recorded before the mundanity of day-to-day life came calling.
For one reason or another, the project never saw the light of day, with tracks sat gathering dust on hard drives for the best part of a decade. During the madness and loneliness of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trago rediscovered the tracks. Delighted by what he heard, a collective decision was made to add finishing touches and release the resultant album on van Lummel’s PIP Records imprint. Further instruments and vocals were added over two days at Hoogendorp’s studio, before mutual friend Tom Ruig got on board to mix the album.
So, what can you expect from Haunted, Mega Wega’s debut album? First and foremost, it’s the sound of pure creative expression – the distillation of a freewheeling, no-holds-barred, spontaneous musical journey variously inspired by the do-it-yourself ethos of musical counterculture, shared inspirations and influences, epic jam sessions, distant stars (Wega, sometimes known as Fidis or ‘the harp star’, is one of the brightest in the night sky), imaginary journeys across dusty deserts, and the comradeship of four new friends.
Enchanting and alluring, it’s an album that gleefully denies lazy categorization and ploughs its own eclectic, atmospheric musical furrow in vivid sonic detail. It’s a collective exploration of heady musical eclecticism unified by saucer-eyed vocals, low-slung bass, loose-limbed beats, sweaty percussion workouts and hazy electric piano motifs.
Haunted begins with the woozy and hallucinatory slow-burn soundscape of ‘Get Things Done’ – an effects laden shuffle akin to lying flat on your back tripping under an intense desert sun – and ends with the creepy, mind-mangling post-punk funk of ‘Brain Carpaccio’; in between, you’ll find spaced-out, low-tempo lo-fi soul (‘Move Around’, ‘Haunted’), tactile synth-powered boogie revivalism (‘Make Me Work’), deep and off-kilter opioid jazz (‘Copenhagen’), intoxicating psychedelia (‘Last Night on Earth’), piano-laden dream-pop epics (‘Shake Or Fall’), and Latin-infused, percussion-powered hedonism (‘Chopping Heads’).
Born out of spontaneous collaboration and immersive, almost endless recording sessions, Haunted is an album shot through with imagination and boundless energy, captured for posterity by four friends and collaborators at the top of their game.
Reverse board tip on with silver pantone print. The first ever reissue of Dorothy Carter's 1978 folk/psych/drone masterpiece. A truly unique album in Dorothy's catalog of otherwise traditional psaltery folk music, Waillee Waillee's essence sits in the confluence of Dorothy's mastery of the dulcimer; its shimmering notes fully enmeshed with the tremulous, cavernous drones of Bob Rutman's bowed steel cello. The core of this album, Dorothy's only with a full band, lies in the contradiction of traditional psych-folk idioms and the minimal avant-garde, referencing Henry Flynt and Laraaji as much as Karen Dalton. This LP version includes 12 page booklet with unpublished manuscripts, drawings, photographs, and songbooks of the songs from the album, as well as extended liner notes from friends and family of Dorothy Carter, including notable musicians such as Laraaji, Bob Rutman, and Alexander Hacke (of Einstürzende Neubauten). Drops soon - a joint release between Palto Flats & Putojefe Records.
Dorothy Carter was many things - a virtuoso player, storyteller, historian of Celtic and Appalachian folk music, avid lifelong busker, avant-garde musician, and itinerant troubadour, laying a framework for music that existed both within and outside of standard folk idioms - never better represented than on her 1978 masterwork, Waillee Waillee. Underscored by Bob Rutman’s cavernous bowing of the steel cello, the richness of Waillee Waillee’s sound produces an album unlike any other in her discography. In particular, its two side-ending pieces, “Summer Rhapsody” and “Tree of Life,’’ glide with the shimmering filigree of hammered dulcimer and Dorothy Carter’s ephemeral voice floating over Rutman’s droning buzz of the steel cello. The elements of these two tracks suggest something akin to a transcendental Appalachian raga or whirling cosmic folk music, an effortless combination that serves to add additional substance to the remaining tracks on the album.
The title track is one of her most enduring compositions, often performed in stripped down versions throughout her career, and one of her sole recordings featuring a full band, with the contrapuntal interplay of tremulous flute, vibrating steel cello, bass and drums. Lyrically and tonally, her voice would never sound as stirring and refi ned as on this, her most outwardly accessible song.
She counted musical colleagues as diverse as Constance Demby, Einstürzende Neubauten and Laraaji, as well as her lifelong artistic partner and friend Bob Rutman, whose imprint is felt throughout the grooves of this record. The master tapes for this recording were fortuitously discovered in Rutman’s Berlin studio, many, many years later. As recounted in Laraaji’s contribution to the liner notes, Dorothy was “someone who really influenced my early zither exploration and vocabulary and inspired my shift toward hammered zither performance and recording,” after encountering him busking on the sidewalk one day in the 1970s. Later, when living in Berlin in the early 1990s, Dorothy would begin work on manuscripts detailing the history of the dulcimer family and providing extensive sheet music, selected material of which is reproduced in the twelve page booklet included with this release. Dorothy would find later success touring and performing in the late 90s with the ensemble Mediæval Bæbes, which she led with British musician Katherine Blake, playing a prominent role on their first four albums.
Locked-In's fourth release beckons you to dive deep into the distinctive sound of Session 4000 with the "Get Down" EP.
Launching the dancefloor manifesto on the A1 is 'Panaka,' a relentless groove brimming with infectious energy. The bassline asserts its dominance, while the synth patterns showcase a pure, playful mastery.
Progressing to the A2, 'Second Skin' unravels as a mind-bending revelation, leaving an enduring imprint. Session 4000 skillfully weaves intricate layers that captivate from the initial drop to the final fade-out.
Flipping to the B side, 'Get Down' lives up to its name, beckoning with a bumping rhythm and spraying synths. It's a decisive call to action, destined to be a certified dancefloor weapon tailor-made for late-night club escapades.
Concluding the EP on the B2 is 'Mr. Freeze,' as cool as its title implies. This track leaves an indelible mark, providing a memorable conclusion to this electronic narrative.
"Letters from Home”, the newest track from Rowee, Flowers On Monday, and Eleonora is our latest release on In Waves. Mass Digital, DSF, and Slow Hearts added their special versions, to complete this four track EP. Out on vinyl now, and available across all digital stores."
Korean artist and musician Jin Won Lee (이진원), otherwise known as Gazaebal, began his career in New York. Working as a sound engineer, alongside such illustrious artists as the Wu-Tang Clan and Janet Jackson, led him to develop a keen ear for dexterous audio design, melodic flair and catchy rhythm. But his true interest lay in uncovering the unique textures and synthetic qualities of electronic music. From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, Gazaebal focused on developing himself as a producer, synergising a uniquely potent take on club music, releasing three albums and appearing on numerous collaborations.
An established figure in the realm of contemporary art, Jin Won Lee is well-known for his hybrid, highly technological practice. In 2008, together with Jang Jaeho, he formed The Tacit Group, a collective for computer-coded art. Presenting works that manipulate audio and visuals in real-time through programming, the group has performed at the FAMS Choice selection, Lincoln Center in New York, at the Seoul branch of the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, among many others. As a solo practitioner, he initiated in 2023, a project that examines sound as abstracted vibration. brings together Jin Won Lee’s decades long investigations into sonic experimentation and the physicality of noise.
Outside the avant-garde, Gazaebal has enjoyed mainstream success, collaborating with Big Hit Productions founder and BTS songwriter Mr. "Hitman" Bang on remixes and arrangements for K-POP albums. They also formed the two-man group Banana Girl, with Gazaebal focusing on composition while Bang handled vocals, achieving a big hit with their 2000s track ‘Butt.’
Another crucial figure in Gazaebal’s life is his wife Nine who operates as his agent and business partner. Initially released in 1999 on Nine’s independent imprint dmstrax, the titular track ‘Talk’ first appeared on techno@kr, a compilation CD of Korean electronica. Together, they co-founded G Records, which was partly absorbed into Bighit Entertainment in 2005. Appearing as the inaugural record on Bighit, the original version of 'And So On' – featuring Bang’s vocal production – was not available for re-release due to licensing difficulties. But thankfully the multitrack was well preserved. Utilising these components, Nawon Ha (AKA Korean-but-Amsterdam-based artist Naone) re-imagines the song for Betonska Records.
A combination of un- and self-released material, Talk is an album that firmly belongs to the millennium while sounding utterly outside of space and time. A cosmic trance trip that draws on rock’s steely drive, wiggy acid basslines and warbling dub, the record is presented as a mix-friendly mini-album, with the 6 tracks ideally tailored to DJ-level quality and loudness. As much suited to the psychedelic rave scene of yesteryear as they are to present-day dancefloors, Gazaebal’s productions are defined by his idiosyncrasies. Melding the sheen of tight production and pop sensibilities with a flagrant DIY spirit, his music assuages the high-commercialism of the 2000s, resulting in a style that’s as definitely punchy as it is precise
Mood Child label owners Sirus Hood and Manda Moor curate a sonic journey featuring global talent as they proudly present their latest compilation, ‘Various Moods’. A kaleidoscope of experiences, the release showcases six tracks from diverse artists, each contributing their unique vibe to this eclectic musical package.
Hailing from Brazil, Wayne Le’s ‘This is How’ pays homage to the origins of electronic music with a rolling bassline and a vocal tribute to classic Roland machines, the 808 and the 303. The track’s energy crescendos, making it a highly sought-after ID. Spanish duo Fourth Phase brings ‘WTF’ to the compilation, a groovy masterpiece characterized by 909 drums, a massive bassline, and a playful vocal, reminiscent of the 90s. From Curitiba, Brazil, guerrA. presents ‘Storno’, a fast-paced old-school beat that weaves chopped vocals from a rap DJ tool into a groove enriched with analog drums and a powerful bass sound.
A fusion of French and Taiwanese influences, Nathan Alzon’s ‘Flashback’ captures the essence of a new beginning. The track features a vocal saying “take me away”, blending seamlessly with the groovy sound characteristic of Alzon’s productions. Representing Mexico, Gama delivers ‘Tatata’, an explosion of Latin percussive elements blended with a hypnotizing groove. Inspired by his hometown Cancún, Gama experiments with new rhythms and sounds, infusing a significant Latin influence into the track. Marseille’s Malikk, known for his releases on Hot Creations and Hottrax, collaborates with Palermo-based Side B. The duo draws inspiration from '80s disco, funky, soul, and retro movies, crafting ‘How I Feel’ with punchy drums, a heavy bassline, and unique grooves.
After five years from "Cash On The Line" Admiral returns with some hot served distillate of his sweet psychedelic bliss. Admiral takes us on an acid soaked journey through the many realms of consciousness offering a unique and alluring soundscape that defies traditional boundaries."Do You Want To Sit On The Green" sounds like library music coming from a parallel universe where the familiar and the surreal seamlessly blend to create a musical tapestry that is both nostalgic and avant-garde.
“Dual Realms of Sounds” emerges as the latest vinyl masterpiece from the enigmatic Soul Button, an audio diptych that distills the essence of his sonic signature. This meticulously curated double-vinyl collection showcases the dualistic nature of Soul Button's artistry, encapsulating the dynamic range of his most compelling works across two distinct auditory domains.
The first vinyl pays homage to the night - a pulsating journey through Soul Button's most successful, club-oriented anthems. Here, the beats intensify and the rhythms beckon you to the dance floor, with tracks like the fiery "Incendiary" and the enigmatic "Qabila" poised to ignite the crowd.
Vinyl 2 presents a shift in narrative to a more introspective realm, featuring the most melodious and soul-stirring hits from Soul Button.
The ethereal "Utopia" and the haunting "Wraith”, stand as cornerstones of this auditory expedition, channeling the essence of deep house with a dreamlike introspection, steering away from the dance floor and into the vast landscapes of the mind.
“Dual Realms of Sounds” is more than a mere collection of tracks; it is a portal to contrasting universes where rhythm and emotion converge. This release invites you to secure your passage and delve into the duality of rhythm and melody that defines Soul Button's unique sound.
LA based producer Eric Spire released some very forward thinking music on his Silver Pearl label back in the late 90’s. This type of heavy, psychedelic house music was the bridge to a new era of sound and grabbed a lot of attention from the likes of Craig Richards & Lee Burridge’s Tyrant nights at Fabric and DJ Garth to name a few.
Now, 2 decades later, Sushitech and label head Yossi Amoyal compiled a unique series that includes some of the most inspiring and hard to find tracks out of the Silver Pearl back catalogue.
This is an exclusive insight to one of the most inspiring underground labels coming from the west coast. Essential!
LA based producer Eric Spire released some very forward thinking music on his Silver Pearl label back in the late 90’s. This type of heavy, psychedelic house music was the bridge to a new era of sound and grabbed a lot of attention from the likes of Craig Richards & Lee Burridge’s Tyrant nights at Fabric and DJ Garth to name a few.
Now, 2 decades later, Sushitech and label head Yossi Amoyal compiled a unique series that includes some of the most inspiring and hard to find tracks out of the Silver Pearl back catalogue.
This is an exclusive insight to one of the most inspiring underground labels coming from the west coast. Essential!
This pairing was slated to be Event 218 in late 1974, but as no copies have emerged, it can be assumed that the single was pulled. It is hard to know why, but judging by its rarity the Anderson Brothers GSF release of ‘I Can See Him Loving You’ was a commercial failure - perhaps Event didn’t want to suffer a similar fate.
This reading of producer Ray Dahrouge’s song is more soulful and vital than the Anderson Brothers which was huge on the Northern Soul scene, but without this take for competition at the time.
Maybe the steamy finale to the Mayberry’s version was a bit too much for radio play, but surely the brilliance of the ballad A side would have compensated for that. Their loss; our gain.
London lyricist Slim Papi returns for the 3rd and final release in his ‘Châteauneuf-du-Papi’ series with this 4-track EP.
Following collaborations with the likes of Crimeapple, Sonnyjim & Jam Baxter, this time London’s Slim Papi teams up with the Madlib-cosigned Chris Crack, who makes a rare appearance singing his way through the Max-B reminiscent hook as well as handling a 16 bar verse. Crack appearing fresh off the back of his latest ‘Free Sex’ LP and fellow wine-afficinado Griselda/Alchemist affiliate, Willie The Kid.
Continuing the trend set through his ‘Chateauneuf-du-Papi' EP series, the EP once again sees artwork courtesy of Dublin’s Johnny Brennan and includes tracks named after cult a movie directors, iconic restaurants and highly coveted bottles of plonk. The Jon Phonics produced lead single ‘Wim Wenders’ also features Luke Mills-Pettigrew of psychedelic-jazz experimentalists, Lunch Money Life, on bass guitar. Making the 4 track opus a truly all star cast.
Continuing the self proclaimed ’travel rappers’ world hopping theme (his last ‘I’ve Long & Prosper’ project written & recorded during a stint in Brazil) the EP was written during a short stint working the harvest at a friends vineyard in Portugal’s Douro valley, working 16 hour shifts, breaking only to cook twice a day. A vibe summarised in Papi’s effortless lyrics - “Precipitation, maceration, elevation, information highway generation, microphone mathematics, fry the amoratics” - and a work ethic translated to the music we hear. With his trademark themes of vintage vehicles, water sports and the finer things in life, the guest verses from Willie The Kid & Chris Crack match this energy with a little more bravado to spare.
deadbeat Records is pleased to announce the launch of their highly anticipated second release, "Farsight - Sorry Mate! EP". Following the success of their debut release, the label continues to push a playfully energetic and late-night sound with this latest offering.
Marshall Smith AKA Farsight brings his characteristically unique flair and top-notch production skills to each track. The release is already getting DJ support from the likes of Emerald, Nikki Nair, Jay Carder, Rnbws, Hunter Starkings, Lex G, Dawn Razor, Plot 45 and Oldfield to name a few - and there are a limited number of records available.
Teenage twins Ruffy & Tuffy deliver an apocalyptic slab of synth drenched Rub a Dub with what could be the first use of Vocoder in Reggae for 1982’s If The 3rd World War Is A Must. This release draws from both the original 12” and the master tapes combining the best vocal cut and dub versions.
Though not prolific musicians, many may recognize the twins sparring in matching red Pony track suits in Ted Bafaloukos’ iconic 1978 film Rockers. Ahead of its time in almost every way, the lyrics dealing with global war and the nefarious use of technology, sadly seem as relevant now as they did in 1982 though some of the actors may have changed. Surrounded by elite reggae musicians from childhood it was nothing unusual for the brothers to be in the presence of elders like Gregory Isaacs, Burning Spear, Augustus Pablo, Jacob Miller and especially Bob Marley at recording sessions and in daily life.
If The 3rd World War was their first venture into the studio as solo artists in 1982 first at Channel One and then Tuff Gong where Wailers alumni Earl Wire Lindo and Tyrone Downie (keys and Vocoder) laid down their space age additions to the track creating a genre bending Reggae /Electro/ Dub concoction that still sounds fresh 41 years later. Wire Lindo & the twins took the mastertapes to Texas based mechanical engineer and producer Stephen “Iya” James who ran Marcus Garvey Records and the label African Unity Productions in the unlikely Reggae hub of Austin Texas. The track was not released until two years later in 1984 as a 12” which had a run of only 500 copies and is no easy find these days.
A command across genres has distinguished Yasushi Ide’s work as a DJ and producer since emerging from the multiscene spawning big bang that was Tokyo’s highly influential club milieu of the 1980s. His productions draw variously from hip-hop, dub, house, punk, jazz dance, exotica and electronic music - and at their most expressive, synthesize sensibilities within a single track. The respect Ide’s earned is well evident in the impressive roll call of collaborators he’s accrued over the years - Masters At Work, Tom Verlaine, Don Letts, James Chance, DJ Krush, Pharaoh Sanders, U-ROY, and Bongo Herman, just to name a legendary few.
Now available for worldwide distribution from Love Injection Records in both digital and 7-inch 45 vinyl formats, the Yasushi Ide “A Place In the Sun (Kaoru Inoue Remix)” is paired with the equally gorgeous “A Place In the Sun (Dub).” On the former, Inoue’s treatment largely strips away the track’s beats, anchoring it to a subtle percussion pulse that emphasizes the composition’s irresistible melodic qualities. The latter finds Yoko Ota at the controls restoring and pushing reverb-soaked drums to the forefront of the mix, accentuating Ide’s affection for the sound system aesthetic while exercising just the right amount of spacial arrangement flourishes to inject some brawn amidst the beauty.
These serendipitously rediscovered renditions of a back catalog deep cut are just the latest examples of Yasushi Ide’s artistic reach. In addition to recording such acclaimed albums as 2020’s Cosmic Suite and its 2022 sequel (for which Love Injection has remixed a track), his work has spanned music supervision of some 200+ compilations for major labels, artist management, his Grand Gallery shop/gallery proprietorship, and books showcasing the depth of his archival sensibilities, including vintage t-shirt and ephemera curation. Perhaps most inspiring, however, is that Ide is still winning new appreciators and collaborators in unexpected ways four decades into a revered career that continues to evolve and expand.
Joshua Kit Clayton released very inspiring music during the late 90’s. Forward-thinking minimal-dub-techno that influenced many artists and labels such as Vertical Forms and Scape. Joshua later designed the MSP/MAX program that is used by artists like Aphex Twin and Autechre and a major influence on the IDM, Minimal Techno sounding music.
This closing chapter of the Kit Clayton’s Retrospective trilogy featuring rarities like Sliding Window and Zepto among new and unreleased tracks. Big with fans of Basic Channel, Porter Ricks and Aphex Twin. Vinyl Only.
Joshua later designed the MSP/MAX program that is used by artists like Aphex Twin and Autechre and a major influence on the IDM, Minimal Techno sounding music.
Hot'n'Spicy' is back for a captivating compilation of hedonistic disco delights.Experience the magic as disco players come together again on this album. Featuring the German groove sensation Delfonic, the iconic House stallion Franck Roger, the very Cosmic Dj Steef , and the Disconimo HOLDTight. Get ready for the musical journey filled with quality slow-disco soul jams, feverish disco beats, and enchanting cosmic grooves. On Side A, a Chicago disco groover « Everything is love » by Delfonic, followed by the slow house cracker « Disco Power » by HOLDTight. OnSide B, « Pinguino Bloumo », a superb piece of disco cooked by Franck Roger, and indulge in the Cosmic journey of « Warp Odyssey »by Dj STEEF. This vinyl release is a must-have for any discerning music lover seeking an exquisite blend ofdisco. Thanks for being with us on this journey. As always, a tasty piece for diggers and late-night DJs...
Lee Jeffries Brings Northern Soul Holy Grail 7” to life in live form with the Unsung Wonders playing live and recorded onto 2 inch tape with no editing to give you stunning versions of these northern soul treasures.
The Album was recorded back in 2016 in Leicester with Lee's dad Steve Jeffries, one of the world's leading Northern Soul’s rare record dealers.
Lee's good friend & now pressing manager at Sonic Wax Pressing Manager Adam Bucanan also was involved in the producing and mentoring the young band to deliver these stunning records.
With 50 years of Northern Soul Wigan Casino in 2023 it's great to see new Northern Soul music is being made.
The Rice N Peas is the alternative ego to The Unsung Wonders and give a stunning Lovers Rock / Reggae take on these holy grail tracks.
On March 26, 2015, a surprising announcement sent shockwaves through the Belgian music scene. Noe?mie Wolfs declared her departure from Hooverphonic, the band she had fronted as the lead singer for over five years. She described it as the end of an incredible chapter in her life and expressed her desire to forge her own musical path, which she did by releasing her critically acclaimed debut album "Hunt You" a year later.
In February 2020, the long-anticipated second solo album by Noe?mie arrived, titled "Lonely Boy's Paradise," brimming with melancholic hues. Taking her time to craft and record this album, Noe?mie delivered a collection of songs that resonated even more deeply with her. At the production helm was Yello Staelens (also known as Yong Yello). With "Lonely Boy's Paradise," her confidence grew, allowing her to embrace risk and unconventional ideas. However, the international lockdown soon threw a spanner in the works, as the society shut down a day after her celebrated sold-out release show at the Ancienne Belgique. Rather than sit by, she therefore retreated to her home studio to work on new music.
Making music from the heart has always been in the DNA of Belgian singer Noémie Wolfs and yet this time it is a tad different as she's gearing up to release her third album, "Wild At Heart," in November. This time around, she joined forces again with her partner in crime, Simon Casier (of Balthazar and Zimmerman), to write and produce the album in their home studio. Despite being in the business for years, the upcoming project also immediately presented a challenge for her because this time she was involved both as a writer, but more importantly as a producer, giving the album an even more personal touch. Everything was done from an emotion or a vision, you notice and hear the love for enchanting arrangements immediately.
The ten tracks on "Wild At Heart" promise a distinct sound, enriched with meticulous attention to detail. The melodies are interwoven with dreamy, melancholic strings and an array of synths, revealing a new facet of Noémie's musical evolution. The new sound of Noémie evolved from a hip-hop-oriented use of samples on her second album "Lonely Boys Paradise" to a more electronic approach, where danceable beats with analog synths join forces with big orchestrated strings to capture the different facets of a love story.
"Strings are actually very hopeful or often form a warm blanket for many people, but can also be very frightening, oppressive, dark, and sad. It might even be my favourite instrument, which is why I definitely wanted to use them on this album. Sometimes you can even hear 42 violins at the same time, with which we wanted to capture the grandeur of Hollywood," she says about including strings.
The upcoming album is not a sonic continuation of her previous albums, but a deliberate exploration of what has always inspired her. "Wild At Heart" tells the story of two lovers who cannot live with each other, but also cannot live without each other. The dramaturgy of the album also reflects itself musically, which is immediately evident with the first single "Lonely Heart". In almost eight minutes, you feel the matchless passion in her music and her voice remains the narrative thread that makes you forget time and space around you for a moment. Noémie Wolfs' new music is therefore the perfect way to take a break from the daily grind and digs deep into all forms of romance.
"Wild At Heart" is Noémie Wolfs' reintroduction and her most personal project so far. For dreamers, lovers, and travelers.
LA based producer Eric Spire released some very forward thinking music on his Silver Pearl label back in the late 90’s. This type of heavy, psychedelic house music was the bridge to a new era of sound and grabbed a lot of attention from the likes of Craig Richards & Lee Burridge’s Tyrant nights at Fabric and DJ Garth to name a few.
Now, 2 decades later, Sushitech and label head Yossi Amoyal compiled a unique series that includes some of the most inspiring and hard to find tracks out of the Silver Pearl back catalogue.
This is an exclusive insight to one of the most inspiring underground labels coming from the west coast. Essential!
In apartheid-era South Africa, gospel music provided solace and served as a tool for covert communication to circumvent the censorship of the settler regime. By the 2010s, South African gospel, deeply ingrained in the soul of Soweto, assumed a new role—as a heartfelt cry against persistent failures and shortcomings, a cry mourning a South Africa that never materialized.
A new South Africa needed a new gospel sound.
In 2016, nine young men from different parts of Diepkloof, a celebrated neighbourhood brimming with talent within Soweto's sprawling township, came together to form the sound of a new South Africa under the name Diepkloof United Voice.
Diepkloof United Voice's music has gone viral multiple times on TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook, garnering between 60,000 to 2 million views. The comments section displays flag emojis from Brazil to India, showcasing the global reach of their music.
This album was recorded on site in Soweto, in an abandoned classroom of Lebowa Elementary School in Diepkloof Zone 3, where the choir rehearsed for years. Amid rolling blackouts, Diepkloof United Voice poured their heart, soul, and vocal chords into their debut record, combining classic South Africa gospel, Soweto's own kasi soul, American blues, and Zulu flavor, to present the contemporary gospel sound of a changing South Africa.
The promise of a new South Africa might finally be realized, as Diepkloof United Voice guarantees the country's future is guided by the truth, uttered with each gasp of breath from their inimitable voices.
Olo Yegussa presents its first release with a record that comes from a
distant tribal exploration. Through four long tracks, a mystical
atmosphere arises. Semifull Soft presents us a unique universe tinged
with the spirit’s voice that has enchanted his nights. Composed
between Lyon and Reunion Island, “Tribe Corridor” is a sensitive blend of sounds resonating between bewitching dub, electronica and a radically slow, travelling trance. A universal eclecticism that will
immerse every listener in a world oscillating between sensitivity and
brutality. the Olofones’s kingdom : “The slow and rigorous walk that
embraces all the Olofones through rivers, plateaux and mountains in
search of dreamlike destination. A few beings close off the line, far
behind, it would seem like they are the most talkative and curious.
They are always the ones found at the back. While some are looking at
the horizon and remain far ahead, others have their glance towards the crests . A complementarity that can only be created through time, just like a meticulus plait weaving several souls. A daily ritual gives rhythm to this eternal trip. The first to arrive raises a flame, « la phorie », each place will reveal its particularity, its curve, its elegance. Still in our days, she allows our « Pas Latents » to find back the path in the heart of this wide mountain corridor, with its delicate relief. We can hear on both sides the adjacents forests, their steps and their songs resonating.
Upon their arrival, the recognition is a custom for this brief instant, in
constant development. The Lanterns are the first explorators. They
build a moving background, looking after a neutric zone for the night.
Time metamorphoses. And it is now the moment for « Les Pas Latents
» to share tales and stories taken for their own adventures. Their
voices rise up , the stars shine, the earth trembles of strange
sensations. A common vibration. The souls intertwine, the «
chaosmose » operes. Sometimes the « âmoniale » wave curves and
gets linked around the central heat, luminescence and clarity. A few
words escape from the rhythm and leave slumber and reverie take
control of the spirits.”
Growing up in the 90s in rural upper Austria, Jakobin spent his time with skateboarding and listening to lots of hip hop before witnessing the halcyon days of the Vienna downbeat era and later being introduced to Austrias club culture. Pursuing his growing passion for collecting vinyl, he started spinning his first records in the region and later moved to the Austrian capitol.
There he quickly connected with likeminded people. Quickly getting immersed in the Viennese electronic music scene, he started producing and DJing with his longtime friend Domino under the moniker Jakobin & Domino and became founding members of Luv Shack Records in 2011. After a number of successful releases he started his solo career and began working on his live setup. His growing collection of analog gear helped shaping his productions. An overview of his current sound is expressed on his new record ‚Forever More‘. Heavily influenced on 90s UK house productions this 3-track EP will activate your senses and move your body with its groovy basslines and drums, creating an irresistible rhythm.
Labi Siffre burst onto the UK’s blossoming singer-songwriter scene with his debut album in 1970, alongside contemporaries like Elton John, Bill Fay and Mike D’Abo. Featuring early hit “Make My Day” and
“A Little More Line”, the album was arranged and produced by Ian Green, noted 60s hit arranger.
This half-speed master edition is presented in its original sleeve, pressed on 180 gram heavyweight black vinyl, featuring an obi strip, and housed in a poly-lined inner sleeve, with all the lyrics and credits
on a new 4-page insert, as well as annotation by Alan Robinson based on a 2015 interview with Labi Siffre himself.
This new edition has been expertly mastered by Barry Grint at AIR Mastering from the original stereo tapes using precision half-speed mastering. Half-speed mastering is a vinyl cutting technique that
improves groove accuracy and transient information creating an incredibly detailed stereo image with a natural high frequency response.
LA based producer Eric Spire released some very forward thinking music on his Silver Pearl label back in the late 90’s. This type of heavy, psychedelic house music was the bridge to a new era of sound and grabbed a lot of attention from the likes of Craig Richards & Lee Burridge’s Tyrant nights at Fabric and DJ Garth to name a few.
Now, 2 decades later, Sushitech and label head Yossi Amoyal compiled a unique series that includes some of the most inspiring and hard to find tracks out of the Silver Pearl back catalogue.
This is an exclusive insight to one of the most inspiring underground labels coming from the west coast. Essential!
Mountain Series is back with a second installment. This time with the very talented and good friend Ox7f from Germany.
Stefan Klaas, known also as 0x7f, started music production at the age of 16 with a Roland MC-303/XP-10, Yamaha QY-70 and a few years later a couple of Korg Electribes. His current style is a mix between subtle minimal techno and deep melodic tracks with a unique talent to twist his own field recordings into choppy rhythms or atmospheric crackling textures. 0x7f will surely be enjoyed by everyone who loves minimal and glitch.
Ten years JEAHMON! - this is why we celebrate this decade for our imprint with our roots: A jubilee pressing on 12” vinyl. Remember how it all started back in 2013: With a hand painted full cover vinyl series. The crazy fishes from back in the days are still here! Ten years later Marc DePulse's imprint developed to the Top 5 leading Indie Dance labels on the planet – with over 80 releases and a lot of chartbreakers during the years. This vinyl represents a little family showcase with homie artists that built the brand over the past few years and who are an important face for JEAHMON! these days. Just to name a few of course – there are still so many other representive artists that made our imprint becoming so big and successful.
Kimochi Sound welcomes back regular artist Shielding for another standout entry into the label's catalogue, this time on wax with a lovely hand-sprayed sleeve. It's a deep exploration of supple rhythm here with 'Ceiling Licker' mix up diffuse ambient arps and organic sounds from the great outdoors with a bubbling bassline. 'Hundred' is a trippy late night cut with a ghostly atmosphere and muted bells and chords drifting into earshot from way off in the distance. 'Kvadrat' is a late-night collaboration with Maeteriet from Sewer Sender Records that overlays a rubbery minimal rhythm with deft synth details and curious hooks to make for dark but ultimately charming listening.
Holeg Spies’ 7th album BRAVE NEW WORLD is a new step towards his creation of an immersive sound world intermixing his various music influences. The album features collaborations with YOUTH (Killing Joke, The Orb, producer of Pink Floyd and The Verve), well known Dub producer GAUDI, renown Australian percussionist RIP VAN HIPPY, psychedelic dub artist KUBA and French Goa-trance pioneer THIERRY GOTTI (Spectral/Blue Room).
This unshackled album escapes all classification, getting lost in the confines of Electronic, Progressive Rock, Dub, Ambient, Symphonic and Psychedelic music.
French trail-blazer electronic artist, Holeg’s 30-year music exploration has taken him from the early days of techno productions to composing music for films.
Touring Europe and Japan, where he was regularly invited to perform thanks to JUNO REACTOR, Holeg crossed paths with his first filmmaker, the notorious TAKASHI MIIKE, for whom he made an audiovisual remix of one of his most famous films, ICHI THE KILLER in 2001.
His film music duo SAVAGE & SPIES created the soundtrack for the cult classic THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE, BLACKSITE, a $15M thriller by the producers of SICARIO & JOHN WICK and ABRUPTIO starring Oscar-winner JORDAN PEELE. Released on Liquid Sound Design in 2021, his latest opus AXIS MUNDI RELOAD was based on personal immersive journeys in the steppes of Mongolia and among the Hopi tribe in Arizona and features collaborations with YOUTH as well as JAIA and DF TRAM.
UK-based Natural Expressions latest 4 tracker offers pure primetime examples of dub and deep techno. 2 from beloved fixtures in the scene along with 2 that are on the rise. The universally recognized Gradient, gives us 'Flight Above the Fog' and like the title alludes to, it accomplishes. Known for his intricate and classic dub techno rhythms, this hypnotic standout builds the atmosphere to a goosebump crescendo. Collogne follows up with 'West District'. A mesmerizing chord anthem that hangs around in the sweet spot, never over-extending its' welcome.
The second side hosts the ever-talented veteran Merv and his wicked contribution titled 'Serpent'. This attention grabber is standout dub techno in the upmost. Elegant and tempered, it chooses the smoothest route, washing over the listener with absolute dream-like euphoria. Vapnik closes the 12" with a fantastic reinterpretation of the Marco Hessler track 'Spacewaves'. The scintillating chord work is an audible thrill while the subdued drop towards the middle is pure magic. Another strong artist who really brings the heat. NEXV002 is the ideal example of a 4 track EP that features no holes. All killer and no filler.
Lilas Records Unleashes Third Installment, Featuring Pioneering Talent: Tarek Charbonnier and Krif — Lilas Records, the vanguard of underground house music, proudly announces the release of its highly anticipated third project. The brainchild of label founders and revered "Into the Woods" residents, Tarek Charbonnier and Krif, this latest offering transports listeners on a sonic journey echoing the vibrant essence of their signature London sets. Their distinctive soundscapes have thrived within the enigmatic embrace of warehouses and clandestine party spots.
Hailing from the heart of London but now firmly rooted in Montpellier, Lilas Records' latest release is a testament to the duo's unwavering commitment to shaping the future of electronic music. Drawing inspiration from their illustrious careers, Charbonnier and Krif's original productions are set to captivate audiences, uniting diverse elements into an immersive auditory experience.
In an electrifying collaboration, Lilas Records enlists Romanian DJ luminaries Cristi Cons and Nu Zau to reimagine these cutting-edge compositions. With an illustrious history in shaping the electronic music landscape, these maestros bring their distinctive flair to the table, ensuring a riveting reimagining of Charbonnier and Krif's groundbreaking work.
Limited to an exclusive run of 300 copies, this release has already garnered fervent support from a distinguished roster of industry heavyweights including Raresh, Reiss, Ramona Yacef, NTFO, Enzo Siraguza, Silat Beksi, and more. Lilas Records' third offering stands poised to make an indelible mark on the global underground music scene.
There's no denying Marcel Fengler's profound impact on the ever-changing techno landscape. A pioneer in his own right, Fengler's works have flooded dancefloors and set lists worldwide for decades, and that shows no sign of changing anytime soon. His latest work is an all-encompassing four-track EP titled "Unleashed", including a remix from sought-after Stuttgart duo SHDW & Obscure Shape.
Kicking off with the title track, "Unleashed" introduces the EP with high-octane rhythms, pulsating low frequency sonics and rave like harmonic layers. An unrelenting onslaught of fast paced thumping techno, built around long, sweeping notes, vocal injections and a piston-like bassline, this one was made for the height of the party. "Caution" is next to feature, presenting itself as a robust industrial number with harsh percussive drive and endless layers of cadence throughout the mix. Weighty yet groovy in a unique up-tempo way, its robotic vocal splashes make the perfect accomplice for its potent warehouse vibes.
"Cypher" pulls you into the second half of the EP with rattling rhythms and more gritty sweeping musicality. Exhibiting the depth in his production skills, Fengler loads up the mix with a kaleidoscope of percussive elements alongside thumping kicks, surging synths, and another haunting robotic vox before SHDW & Obscure Shape get their teeth into a signature remix. Taking it deeper and darker, the duo's emphasis on subtle progressions and increasing intensity throughout the mix with offbeat trickery and creative unpredictability make their remix of "Cypher" a certified peak-time bomb.
"It has been quite a journey with this EP, as I've been exceptionally discerning about the sound and the entire production process. My goal was to create a release tailored for the dance floor, with the right amount of energy for peak-time moments, while also ensuring a profound and well-structured sonic experience. After testing potential tracks in my DJ sets, I distilled what I believe captures the essence I want to share with the audience. Furthermore, I'm thrilled to have SHDW & Obscure Shape on board for a formidable remix. Their work carries echoes of the raw and forceful sonic textures from earlier times, which I hold in high regard. I'm genuinely delighted with how everything has come together, and I hope you enjoy it!" - Marcel Fengler
Order IMF012 now
A much-needed reissue of an all-time house classic, from the early explosion of the genre on dancefloors the world over. From the minds behind C+C Music Factory, David Cole and Robert Clivillés, Sandee ‘Notice Me’ encapsulates the New York Freestyle era of the late ‘80s perfectly. Early house heat laced with a distinctly Latin American feel, that has been heavy sampled since it burst onto the scene in ‘88. It’s syncopated, seductive and seriously infectious, with a steamy bassline that couples with Sandee’s echoed vocals to send your brain into a state of rapture.
The ‘Notice The House’ mix is a shining example of that freestyle flavour, with the ‘Club Vocal’ leaning into a more synth pop meets electro, proto house feeling. Taking the final spot the stripped back dubbed out, b-boy beast ‘Dubbin' At Studio 54’.
A must have record that still lights up the dance to this day.
Mr Beatnick & Richard Greenan present their debut full length collaboration, "??????". Brought together by their twin residencies on NTS Radio, the duo have forged distinct paths in respective scenes over the last decade - as producers, DJs and label heads of imprints Mythstery and Kit Records.
The strength of their partnership is built on contrasting styles; Mr Beatnick's sound orbits the woozier fringes of house and hip-hop, while Richard Greenan has settled in the cracks between ambient, textural experimentation and the avant-garde. Here, these approaches coalesce in unexpected ways - with violin, harp, guitar and saxophone finding themselves serrated by volleys of percussion and punchily melodic bass.
With much of the music recorded during the pair's residency in Margate, the album documents a weekend toasted and skewed progressively sideways. The opening salvo of cascading synth muscle ("Goodnight Mush") and fragmented acoustic stepper ("Superb Crafty Gardens") could evoke Devo and Pete Rock breaking fried toast over a dirty fry up. Side A's pop sensibilities peak on the lucidly string-laden "Harbour Arms", complete with pristine guest vocal by bb sway.
Then, like the work of a pair of pissed beavers, things start to get pretty weird. Familiar structures ferment laterally, from the midi swamp-hop of "Bellows of the Earth", to the cooked techno-funk stylings of "Bronze Pears". "How to Draw Roger" offers a magma-like credits roll, the sun's purple yolk poached over a hoppy sea of amber.
Aphrose reveals her sophomore album, 'Roses,' a captivating amalgamation of Neo-Soul and R&B, delving into the wellspring of ancestral strength and love.
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Aphrose, also known as Joanna Mohammed, unveils her sophomore album, establishing her as one of Toronto's best-kept musical treasures. Known for her commanding vocal prowess within her hometown, this gifted songwriter and vocalist is rapidly garnering global acclaim and accolades from both fans and music critics alike. Signed to independent Soul label LRK Records, 'Roses' remains firmly rooted in Aphrose's signature style characterized by resounding R&B vocals. However, it also embraces a softer, more introspective aura that brilliantly showcases her remarkable versatility in navigating diverse genres, moods, and musical approaches with remarkable finesse.
This album offers a little something for everyone, catering to enthusiasts of Neo-soul, traditional Soul, Hip Hop, and R&B. Produced by her longtime friends/collaborators at SafeSpaceship Music (Scott McCannell, Chino De Villa, Ben Macdonald), the album serves as a compelling testament to the collective creativity of Aphrose and this exceptional production trio, delivering a kaleidoscope of soundscapes, textures, rhythms, and grooves. 'Roses' weaves together both lighthearted and profound elements as Aphrose explores her life journey, delving into her familial past and present, grappling with the challenges of new motherhood, and contemplating her relationships with herself, her partner, and her friends. Across the 35-minute LP, Aphrose draws inspiration from Neo-soul icons like Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, pays homage to Soul legends such as Aretha Franklin and MJ, and infuses contemporary R&B influences from artists like Frank Ocean, SiR, and SZA. The result is a sound that distinctly bears the 'Aphrose sound,' reflecting her deep admiration for her inspirations while imparting a refreshing twist to familiar genres.
The album commences with its title track, 'Roses,' which was released as a single on August 25th. This song sets the stage, invoking the strength of Aphrose's ancestors, particularly her late Grandmother Rose. Following suit is 'YaYa,' also released as a single on July 7th. This buoyant dance track whisks listeners back to the disco era of the late 70s and early 80s. The album's third track, 'Heavenly Father,' offers a brief interlude featuring a recording of Aphrose's Grandmother Rose engaged in prayer, setting the tone for the subsequent track, 'In The Time Of Sorrow.' This contemplative, chill piece captures Aphrose's musings on navigating a world often shrouded in fakery, while craving authenticity. 'Honey (Don't) Come Back' seamlessly transitions between two distinct musical personalities, commencing with a deep, almost Trap-like bass/drum beat before transforming into a spirited Funk/Soul jam—an anthem of empowerment encouraging the listener to leave a situationship that is no longer working. 'What You Don't See' strips the production down to its core, as Aphrose and guitarist/co-writer Heather Crawford craft an intimate ode to a friendship's sad ending.
The B-side opens with the evocative 'Weapons,' featuring a five-person choir including LRK label-mate Claire Davis, Nevon Sinclair (Daniel Caesar and LOONY), Kyla Charter (Aysanabee and Alessia Cara), Lydia Persaud, and Marla Walters. The track is adorned with a stirring string arrangement courtesy of Jessica Deutsch. 'Chop The Cake' acts as a breather, interlude-style, easing the intensity. 'Soft Nuclear' channels the spirit of the early 2000s R&B movement, bearing traces of influence from Lucy Pearl. 'Good Love,' released as the first single off this body of work on May 19th, transports listeners to the 70s with its soulful resonance, drawing inspiration from the likes of Michael Jackson and Teddy Pendergrass. 'Higher' stands as Aphrose's tribute to Prince, capturing the essence of his music within its hook and production. The album's culmination arrives with 'ZAG,' an acronym derived from Aphrose's daughter's name, commencing with the sound of her daughter's heartbeat in-utero from a sonogram taken when Aphrose was pregnant. This heartfelt composition serves as a dedication to her daughter and all parents navigating the rollercoaster of parenthood, emphasizing the imperative of nurturing love to shape the future.
'Roses' stands as Aphrose's homage to her history—her Grandma Rose and the ancestral trailblazers who paved her path to the present life she enjoys; her current experiences—her self-discovery, her relationships with her partner and friends; and her aspirations for the future—her daughter and the generations to come. This album crystallizes these temporal dimensions, prompting introspection, celebration, laughter, and tears. 'Roses' is a musical odyssey that scrutinizes the multifaceted beauty of existence, inviting listeners to partake in this thing called life.
The radio world has taken notice of Aphrose's talent, with national Radio Capital's Italy Massimo Oldani spinning her latest single "YaYa" for the entire month of July on his show "Vibe." And both singles getting to number 10 in the UK soul chart.Additionally, Aphrose has received national radio play on renowned stations such as BBC in the UK, RTVE in Spain, and Radio France FIP.
Aphrose has also made CBC's Top 100 finalist list for their Searchlight competition.
Huey Morgan played "YaYa" the second track off the album on his BBC radio six show
Dive into the electrifying soundscapes of Wooka's latest EP, "Somethin You Dress Up," as each track becomes a meticulously crafted journey through the realms of electronic house. With his typical beats and rhythms, Wooka takes us on a kaleidoscopic ride through four distinct compositions that embody the very essence of his artistry. From the sun-soaked vibes of "I Hope You Breathe" to the pulsating precision of "People Fucked Up," the EP dances through a spectrum of emotions. "London Somethin" pays homage to '90s UK bass with intricate percussive artistry, while "No dress code", made with Acheel, delves deep into sub-bass syncopation. Hailing from France, Wooka seamlessly blends house, break, and electro, channeling the energy of hip-hop and UK garage. His live performances showcase the dedication to his craft, crafting sonic symphonies that transport audiences to the heart of his musical universe.
Written during a month-long residency with Intonal Festival in Malmo in 2019 and later recorded at The Glue Factory in Glasgow, Dappled Shade is Total Leatherette’s fourth album.
The tape comes in a limited edition of 50 Smokey Grey Hub Tapes with a Risographed paper sleeve. Recorded by Richard McMaster and mastered by Sam Smith.
If your favourite word is ‘harder’ then this one is for you
Mr. K’s series of edits on Most Excellent Unlimited is nothing if not eclectic, and utilitarian — as befits a veteran DJ of Danny Krivit’s stature. For our latest, Krivit pulls two disparate gems out of his bag of tricks and fits them neatly on a single 7-inch piece of vinyl.
In 1972 Ralph Bakshi’s landmark underground animated film Fritz the Cat was released, featuring a soundtrack performed by an all-star cast of San Francisco area musicians associated with the Berkeley-based Fantasy label. Perhaps Fantasy’s biggest artist was the vibes player Cal Tjader, who debuted in 1955 and was still going strong when songs were gathered for the movie’s soundtrack nearly twenty years later. Rather than simply using one of his older, already-recorded tunes, Tjader laid down a completely new version of his earlier hit record “Mamblues.” This time however, he swapped his standard latin percussion accompaniment for a can’t-miss rhythm section of Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, and Arthur Adams. The result was a searing funk workout that took the latin jazz classic to new heights. Mr. K subtly warms this one up by adding a hint of reverb and bringing the tempo down a notch, pushing things from frenetic to funky, and firmly into friendly mixing territory for the DJs.
For our flip side, we turn to an unsung jewel amongst Philadelphia’s many contributions to disco music. Executive Suite released a series of singles in ’74 and ’75 that were recorded at the famed Sigma Sound Studios and had ties to a number of better known disco luminaries, among them the holy trinity of Baker-Harris-Young and, on “You Believed In Me,” the mighty Patrick Adams. Along with his longtime associate Stan Lucas, Adams garnished the vocal quartet’s composition with a driving arrangement and epic, soaring strings. The combined effect produced a vibrant, uplifting club cut that echoes the positive spirit of Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” while being altogether its own thing. For our latest release Mr. K focuses solely on Adams’s instrumental section, returning repeatedly to that addictive string riff and creating a propulsive rhythm track that just doesn’t quit. And we don’t want it to!
As always, these connoisseur’s choice cuts have been remastered and pressed to Most Excellent Unlimited’s standards, and are primed and ready on 7-inch for DJs and home listeners alike.
Next up on Toolroom’s 4-track vinyl sampler series is 4 killer cuts from our latest repertoire.
Kicking off with another straight up, dance floor weapon, Essel lands back on the label with brand-new single, ‘Sweat’. Her toughest sounding record to date that captures the post-rave moment, cementing herself as one of the hottest new talents to emerge in the electronic music scene.
Next up, Parisian born and US based tech house producer Shiba San debuts on Toolroom with a seriously wonky affair alongside studio buddy, Ayarez, aptly titled ‘Twist It’.
Up next on the sampler, is the return of longstanding label favourite Friend Within with his rolling tech house banger ‘Pilka’. Having landed 2 of the hottest tracks on Toolroom last year with ‘Monkey Bars’ and ‘Bring It Down’ which saw sweeping support flood in from across the scene, including Paul Woolford (Special Request) Salute, LF System, Dom Dolla and many more, friend within is officially back for 2023!
Completing the EP, we welcome sola regulars and one of the freshest, most exciting dance music duos to come out of the UK in recent years, Maur who lock horns with chart topping US based Westend, for a label debut set to become 2023’s festival anthem - ‘Over’.
DJ support from Danny Howard, Annie Mac, Mistajam, Pete Tong, Charlie Hedges, Kraak & Smaak, Maxinne, Todd Terry, Alex Preston, Full Intention, Gw Harrison, Dj Rae, Rudimental, Alaia & Gallo, Illyus & Barrientos, Johan S, David Penn, Sam Divine, Riva Starr, Claptone, Nice7, Dario D’attis, Mousse T, S-Man, Huxley, Kc Lights, Friend Within, Dombresky, Gorgon City, Chris Lake, Format:B, Pirupa, Tcts, Alan Fitzpatrick, Low Steppa, Mat.Joe, Raumakustik, Eskuche
Mella Dee Presents RYAN, a new project from one of the UK’s most prolific electronic producers. Exploring a darker, experimental side of the mastermind behind ‘Techno Disco Tool’, the new project sees RYAN take things underground with new track ‘Static Movement’. Alongside the track, RYAN has announced his forthcoming EP Connected Experiences, a 4-track collection of essential club tools due for release on August 11 via DJ and Body Movements co-founder Saoirse’s imprint trUst. The landmark release will be the first time the label head has featured another artist's music and is testament to the direction of Mella Dee’s new musical project, RYAN.
Already doing damage in the club circuit with support from the likes of Ben UFO, Shanti Celeste, Midland and more, ‘Static Movement’ sees RYAN. go back to basics with a drum machine and analog synths, ending with an infinite groove. Speaking on the track, RYAN. explains: “Trust the process. My name is RYAN. This is a collection of music I wrote for the purpose of dancing. Those moments we can all get lost together and connect through experience. trUst is a label built on love and connection. I just want to thank Saoirse for the trust she has shown and the love she gives.”
Label boss Saoirse adds: “This is the first time I've invited another artist to release on trUst and I'm so delighted it's from my close friend the absolute don from Doncaster - Mella Dee. Tracks I've been playing in every set over the past year with Static Movement being one of my most ID'd tunes ever. Once I heard it I knew this had to be the first track released on the label from someone else. Ryan is one of the best producers I know, completely and wholly committed to the dancefloor and I'm thrilled I will be releasing the first of his new project under 'Ryan'. I had complete trust in him to deliver a solid EP.”
Real name Ryan Aitchison, Mella Dee reached international notoriety with his anthemic 2017 single ‘Techno Disco Tool’, reaching number 1 in BBC Radio 1’s Dance Music Chart as well as one of Annie Mac’s ‘Tracks of the Decade’ (and was even played during her final show on Radio 1). A year later, the Warehouse Music label head won ‘Best Breakthrough Label’ at the DJ Mag ‘Best of British’ awards and he was also named one of Mixmag’s ‘Stars of the Year’, cementing himself as one of the most sought after names in dance music. Since then Mella Dee has delivered his debut Essential Mix for the legendary BBC Radio 1 series, curated a mix for Resident Advisor’s prestigious Podcast series, performed a debut Boiler Room set to rapturous acclaim, toured North America multiple times and joined the elusive Circoloco family for a summer of shows at DC10 and their momentous festival in Thailand. Ryan has also curated tours for his own Warehouse Music label, taking over illustrious venues all over Europe including his hometown at the infamous Doncaster Warehouse.
This is the second time out for the Wormholes on AllChival following on from their You Never See the Stars When it Rains anthology release. This one is a previously unreleased album recorded in a concise burst of seven nights in Dublin’s Sun Studios in the spring of 1996. It was originally envisaged as being The Wormholes’ second album, the follow up to their 1994 debut Chicks Dig Scars. Unfortunately the end result of the sessions - Parijuana - would not only be ignored by their label of the time (Roadrunner Records) - but would also just as quickly be dismissed by the band themselves.
Eamonn Crudden, the manager of the band, had manged to extract some money from Roadrunner to record demos of new tracks as soon as the release cycle for their debut was over. The budget was so tight that it covered studio time but was not even enough to buy the master tapes. With things going south with the label – a classic 90’s tale of the A&R man who championed their cause heading off elsewhere the minute they signed - the intention was to go in and aim to record an album rather than demos - with the intention of releasing it on another independent label to keep the momentum around the band going.
However by this stage the Wormholes were totally wrapped up in listening to Can, Faust and generally exploring music based on casual recording, improvisations and extemporization. For them the album was too ‘rock’ and – having been dropped by Roadrunner - they no longer felt under any obligation to release it. To them it was time for a fresh start. Their next recordings would not be ‘for’ anyone but themselves. Today bassist Anto Carroll admits that “at times we were our own worst enemies” and with the benefit of hindsight both he and guitarist Graham Blackmore wish they had gone ahead and released this album at the time. However, back then, they thought they could do better and they did go on to make inventive and unique sounding versions of some of these songs with Stan Erraught producing just a short time later. These recordings were eventually released by Dead Elvis in 1999 - along with a couple of ‘adjusted’ tracks from the Sun Studios sessions - on Parijuana: 4 Years in Captivity.
It’s highly unlikely that listeners today will share the band’s view that the abum was too ‘clean’. This version of Parijuana is dirty, raw, messy with plenty of experimentation and extemporisation. The songwriting is as strong as that on their Chicks Dig Scars debut. The music is played with a new confidence and swagger, very much the sound of a band rooted in a wave of US ‘lo-fi’ finding their own sound. It’s the missing link between their conventional Pavement/Sebadoh influenced debut to the more drawn out, free roaming and extemporised second album proper Scorpio The Album.
The latest offering from Astral Black comes in the form of the 'Metropolis N' LP, courtesy of Queens, New York's number premier importer/exporter of Jungle & D&B, NIGELTHREETIMES. Having initially garnered a name for themselves as one of New York City's most versatile club DJ's, with the release of their 'Call Of The Void; project in 2020 Nigel also began to build a reputation as a producer in their own right. Resulting in residencies on Rinse FM & The Lot Radio, radio support from the likes of Tom Ravenscroft & Uniiqu3 and press support from Resident Advisor, OkayPLAYER & Mixmag – amplifying their talents throughout New York City and beyond.
With 'Metropolis N' NIGELTHREETIMES distills their eclectic influences through the lens of rolling 160bpm breaks – taking in Jazz, 8-bit game soundtrakcs, science fiction & jump up D&B. Starting off the LP with the rhodes tinged double header of 'TSQ MELTDOWN' & 'EARLY MORNING FROM 103RD STREET', the latter featuring some of the best double bass work heard on a jungle track since 'Brown Paper Bag'. Elsewhere, on 'ROAD2RAILS' and 'PHANTOM SHORES', the producer ditches the instrumentation in favour of oscillated square waves, dubbed out vocal FX & 8-bit melodies, without ever losing site of the projects underlying sense of optimism. On the album closer 'INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION', 3X manages to bring together the influences heard throughout the project, tying together a muted rhodes chords, squarewave basslines, flutters of alien melodies and finely tuned, slices breakbeats into a 5 minute symphony.
The consistency and exacting production skills heard throughout the offering elevate this project from another drop in the digital ocean to a landmark opus, from a producer carrying the torch for this timeless sound and making the project worthy of a spot alongside some of the classics this genre has produced.
'Metropolis N' is available Oct 13th on digital and limited edition vinyl via Astral Black.
Best Record gets right to the heart of true Italo-Disco with this body-poppin' killer from 1983. R.E.M. were made up of Paolo Alfani and Nicola Serena, both based in Florence and well ahead of the curve with their experimental electronic disco sound. Making fantastic use of the Mattel Speak & Spell for their vocal hooks, this enterprising duo cooked up a veritable club bomb with their fusion of sleek drum machine rhythms, throbbing acid basslines and romantic synth tones that would come to be widely used in Detroit techno some years later. There's a full original take of the track on the A side, while the flip features a tweaked "remix" version to give you even more of that robo-vocoder action. In short this is the limited remastered edition of one of the early electro underground Italian releases that became a classic in the Chicago house movement.
Echonomist’s synthesizer-driven productions have often circled the fringes of electronic pop. The Greek producer born Petros Manganaris pushes this further on his latest full-length offering Secret Places. Featuring guest musicians Alexandros Miaris, Avangart Tabldot, and Nadia Ali, Secret Places displays Echonomist’s unfiltered and open-eared approach to building songs. The LP moves through gauzy ambient, high-spirited techno, and iridescent indie-electronica to conceive a prismatic world of divergent textures, crystal-clear in melody.
'Vibes player Johnny Lytle was one of the heroes of the early acid jazz club circuit, with his cuts 'Selim' and 'The Man' being anthems of the scene.
The Ohio born player’s first album, as a leader was on the Jazzland label in 1962 with “Nice And Easy” and his second, three years later, on Riverside "The Village Caller" made him a star in the jazz world. When Riverside encountered difficulties, co-owner Orrin Keepnews collaborated with Lytle on two albums which came out on the Detroit label Tuba.
The first of these "The Loop" featured his regular trio partners organist Milt Harris and drummer “Peppy” Hinnant. This line up was augmented on some tracks by former Miles Davis’ pianist Wynton Kelly and bassist George Duvivier. A 7” version of the title track actually spent five weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1966. As for the album, as well as the acid jazz cut 'The Man' it features a stunning version of Duke Pearson's 'Christo Redentor' and the dancefloor friendly 'Possum Grease' and 'Hot Sauce'. The band also stretch out on extended track ‘The Shyster’.'
'The John Carter and Bobby Bradford Quartet/Quintet were critical to the progressive jazz movement around Los Angeles in the late 60s alongside the likes of Horace Tapscott. Both hailed from the Watts area and trumpeter, Bradford played with a woodshedding Ornette Coleman for two years in the early 60s when the legendary free movement leader decided not to record for a while but wanted to hone his trademark sound on the saxophone. Multi-reed player, Carter also worked with Coleman who brought them together to lead their own band.
Their first outing on Flying Dutchman was “Flight For Four” as the Carter Bradford Quartet that was released in 1969. This is the second album they recorded where Carter and Bradford were supported by Tom Williamson (bass), Buzz Freeman (drums) and another uncredited bass player on four extended improvisations – ‘The Sunday Afternoon Jazz Blues Society’, ‘The Eye Of The Storm’, ‘Loneliness’ and ‘Encounter’.'
South London Soul Band Trambeat, influenced by the floor shaking sound of 1960's Motor City. With brand new single, "Don't Hold Back"
Trambeat were formed in 2012 by guitarist Graham Potter and drummer Des" Jammy" James. Graham and Des had played together in several bands previously and already had a good musical understanding. Trambeat's manifesto; to write original songs influenced by a love of Northern Soul, Motown, Rocksteady and RnB. But also to look forward and include elements of more contemporary genres. Bass player Nipper Smith, Saxophonists Robin Ogleby and Nadia Barbosa, and organist Emer O'Hanlon were recruited to form the core band and Trambeat set about recording and gigging with various vocalists until, in 2016, Aimee Grinter became Trambeat's permanent lead singer.
Written by Graham Potter and Des James, "Don't Hold Back" is in some ways a comeback single for Trambeat. The pandemic years took their toll on many bands and Trambeat in particular, with the loss of founding member Robin Ogleby being a very hard blow. Following a tribute single in 2021 to raise money for Robin's charities, and a couple of festival gigs in the summer of 2022, theyndidn't have much appetite for writing new material, and were unsure whether to continue as a band without Robin. It was during a jam between Graham and Des in late 2022 that the bones of "Don't Hold Back" came together. The drums and rhythm guitar clicked into an infectious dance groove with echoes of vintage Motown. The band members came together in the studio with renewed enthusiasm and laid down the track in just a day. The band, who remained close,even during this hiatus, realised how great it was to be back in the studio together again. Graham's lyrics, as well as the euphoric feel of the track, reflected this new optimism within the band. "Don't Hold Back" is a celebration of life, of deep friendships and most of all, of love!
Plays on Gary Crowley's show on BBC London.
Regularly played by Button Down Radio, Heavy Soul (Cambridge), The Influential Factor show on Solid Front Radio (album of the week for TTN), Mod Radio UK (various shows), The Edward B'stard Radio Show, several stations in Germany and Edge Radio and couple of others in Australia
“Bumpers” is the latest EP on T4T LUV NRG by DJ Autopay, the alias of musician and DJ Russell E.L. Butler. All of these tunes were written with DJs and blending in mind—like bumper cars, they are fun yet emotionally charged and built for unexpected collisions of sound. “More Femme, More Masc” is a queer non-binary anthem with heavy Baltimore-influenced vibes, written by Russell during the pandemic in a time of peak vulnerability, their voice cracking throughout. The track is an interpretation of “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman and “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow” by Nice & Smooth but sounds like nothing we have heard before. Tropes 1, 2 & 3 are all house instrumentals in the spirit of the golden age of American house music yet interpreted through Russell’s unique lens. These cuts would have been as at home on Guidance records years ago as they are today on T4T LUV NRG, evoking the swinging dance beats and heady vibes of producers like Callisto and the early Large records by Kerri Chandler and DJ Rasoul. Russell has created something truly special for the contemporary dance floor with this timeless EP.
LOCUS unveils the lineup for the fourth instalment of its ‘LOCUS Trax’ VA series, Danny Snowden, Job de Jong, ADR and OURMINDZ delivering label debuts across the package.
Blossoming as a label with its own identity, FUSE’s sister imprint LOCUS is continuing to serve up dancefloor heat at an impressive level, with 2023’s releases featuring material from Lauren Lo Sung, Youandewan, Nolga, Okain, Garrett David and more. Returning with another edition of its ongoing ‘LOCUS Trax’ VA, shining a spotlight on emerging talent of note, late October welcomes four new names to the label as UK trio Danny Snowden, ADR, and OURMINDZ join Dutchman Job de Jong.
Danny Snowden kicks things off with the euphoric tones of ‘Essence’ as he combines glossy synths with skippy percussion and a snaking groove, while Job de Jong draws for rumbling low-ends and playful, bouncy electronics Across ‘OOC’. Heading up the b-side, ADR’s ‘Bungee Gum’ brings hazy chords, snaking drums subtle acid-dipped melodies, before OURMINDZ merges resonant organ stabs and elastic synths on the lively ‘Dusty’.
LOCUS Trax Volume 4 drops on 27th October 2023 via digital and physical formats.
The latest by New York-based producer Lamin Fofana further refines his cinematic dialect of fractured soundscapes, displaced rhythms, and tectonic unease. Unsettling scores aptly describes itself: grainy, bristling, and bruised, rippling with dread disguised as grandeur. The collection emerged from an extended reworking of his 2016 composition, “A Symbol of the Withdrawn God,” mining deeper into the piece’s “unvoiced fragments, shards, and utterances.” Other tracks were inspired by recent readings on climate emergency and its “specific implications for Black life, from hurricanes in the Caribbean to mudslides in West Africa.”
Fofana has spoken of his music as part of a “legacy of resistance,” spanning the roots of Detroit techno to the outer reaches of contemporary sound art as championed by his labels, Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Black Studies. His work here vividly embodies that spirit, seven hyper-textural transmissions of rumbling lament, shifting sands, and restless innovation, tracing jagged silhouettes of indeterminate futures: “The instability is worldwide.”
A true masterpiece, full of dashing solos and containing some of Freddie King's finest vocals since his heyday in the late '50s and early '60s. Released by Shelter Records in 1972, Texas Cannonball is similar to his first Shelter outing (Getting Ready), but with
more of a rock feel. It covers tunes by Jimmy Rogers, Howlin' Wolf, and Elmore James, tackles compositions by Leon Russell and, more unexpectedly, Bill Withers, Isaac Hayes-David Porter, and John Fogerty (whose "Lodi" is reworked into "Lowdown in Lodi"). King's own pen remained virtually in retirement, as he wrote only one of the album's tracks. In 2007, the Houston Chronicle listed
Texas Cannonball among the 75 essential Texas blues albums.
Ed Sheeran’s brand-new album Autumn Variations will be available for pre-order on the 24th August at 5pm before a worldwide release on the 29th September. It will be available to stream on all platforms as well as purchase physically as a CD or various limited Vinyl editions.
Ed Sheeran is an era-defining artist who has sold over 52 million albums and 150 million singles across the world. Through his fusion of thought-provoking songwriting, universal pop and multi-genre influence, his rich tapestry is not only perfectly suited to his audience but it’s something that transcends generations.
Since surfacing on the UK circuit in 2010 with his ‘No.5 Collaborations Project’ – an eight-track EP featuring his favourite grime artists of the time – the Suffolk-raised recording artist has resonated with fans across the world through his peerless songcraft and versatility. And now, with six consecutive UK No.1 albums to his name – ‘+’ (2011), ‘x’ (2014), ‘÷’ (2017), ‘No.6 Collaborations Project’ (2019), ‘=’ (2021) and ‘-‘ (2023) – Sheeran continues to reaffirm his status as one of the most in-demand pop stars on the planet.
Prior to the release of ‘=’ (October 2021) – an album that’s now surpassed five million global sales - Sheeran secured two UK No.1 singles in the UK with ‘Bad Habits’ and ‘Shivers’, which sat atop the UK’s Official Singles Chart for a combined total of 15 weeks. Moreover, the LP saw him take home 2 x EMA’s for ‘Best Artist’ and ‘Best Song’; an American Music Award for ‘Favourite Male Pop Artist’; British GQ’s ‘Solo Artist of the Year’; 4 x Los40 Awards; a BRIT Award for ‘Songwriter of the Year’ alongside a nomination for ‘Song of the Year’ at the 2022 GRAMMY’s.
Sheeran’s most recent album, Subtract, secured Ed his sixth No.1 album. Produced by Aaron Dessner, the album was anchored in his love of singer/songwriter compositions and written against a backdrop of personal grief and hope. Ed’s most critically-acclaimed album to date, it housed the heart wrenching UK No.1 single ‘Eyes Closed’ – a song about his late friend, Jamal Edwards.
But it’s not just his recorded music that’s seen the former Glastonbury headliner become one of the sought-after artists of the 21st century. Possessing a mystical ability to turn 90,000 capacity venues into the pub back-rooms that he first started playing in, Ed made history in 2015 after becoming the first-ever artist to play Wembley Stadium solo - without a band, just with his guitar and loop pedal - over three, consecutive sold out nights. Move forward to the summer of 2019 and Ed would re-enter history books after the completion of his mammoth two-year Divide tour, officially becoming the most-attended tour of all time after it culminated with special homecoming shows in Ipswich, Suffolk. Beginning last summer, Ed is currently travelling the world on his ‘+ - = ÷ x Tour’ (pronounced ‘The Mathematics Tour’), which saw him return to Wembley Stadium for a five-night run last June.
Ed Sheeran, who was awarded an MBE for his services to music and charity in 2017, is the proud recipient of 1 x IFPI Award (best-selling global artist of 2017); 4 x Grammys; 4 x Ivor Novello’s; 7 x BRIT Awards (including two consecutive wins for ‘Global Success’ in 2018 and 2019); 7 x Billboard Awards + more. Moreover, to this day, his blockbusting third studio album ‘÷’ remains the fastest-selling album, ever, by a male artist in the UK, while the LP’s lead single, ‘Shape of You’, maintains its status as the most-streamed song in Spotify’s history.
At the end of 2019, Sheeran was presented with the Official Chart Company’s first-ever ‘No.1 Artist of the Decade’ award following a host of accomplishments in his native UK including the most No.1’s across the UK’s Official Singles and Albums chart from the years 2010-2019. Most recently, Ed scored two more feats with the OCC after becoming the first British Solo Artist to claim 52 weeks – an entire year – at No.1 on the Official UK Singles Chart, with only Elvis Presley and The Beatles achieving more overall weeks at the top, as well as becoming the first-ever artist with four albums spending an entire year or more in the UK Top 10.
Fake Society is proud to present the seventh release of the label! 3 minimal oriented original tracks that vary in different subgenres by the talented Dutchman Joren Edwards with a special Ion Ludwig Remix, for the later hours of the night, as the cherry on top! This one is not be missed. Supported by Ricardo Villalobos, Raresh, Praslea, Rhadoo and many others..
Amine Edge & DANCE bring their soulful sound to Hot Creations with their uplifting new release ‘It Was’ featuring Pershard Owens backed by a remix from Shermanology. Maintaining a constant presence at the top of the charts, with an impressive catalogue boasting releases on esteemed labels such as Defected, Nervous Records and their very own CUFF imprint, French duo Amine Edge & DANCE have solidified themselves as frontrunners when it comes to the modern house landscape. Up next, their partnership takes them to Jamie Jones and Lee Foss' Hot Creations imprint for the first time with their latest single 'It Was' featuring Pershard Owens, with brother-sister duo Shermanology on hand on remix duties to bring the heat.
‘It Was’ opens with rich piano chords, led by luscious melodies, Pershard’s tender vocals and bright keys crafting a delightful serving of summer house grooves before Shermanology flips the track shifting the focus onto pulsing drum hits and playful rhythms full of energy, perfectly crafted for open-air dance floors.
Polish septet EABS apply an innovatve approach to jazz, distlling it
through the prism of hip-hop, blending it with elements of soul, funk and electronic music. ‘Slavic Spirits’ was 2 years in the making and contains 100% original material. They are joined by 22a head-honcho Tenderlonious who lends his exceptonal soprano saxophone and flute playing to all seven tracks.
Afer their very well-received 2017 debut album ‘Repettons (Leters to Krzysztof Komeda)’, focusing on the lesser-known works of the legendary Polish composer, the Wroclaw-based EABS decided to further expand this lead and released two more vinyl records, ‘Live At Jazz Club Hipnoza (Katowice)’ and ‘Kraksa / Svantetc’, the later recorded directly on tape and released via 22a, which crowned the “Kom eda triptych”. The astounding recepton of these releases built up loyal following outside of their natve Poland and whet listeners’ appette for completely new recordings.
For this LP the musicians turned to Slavic mythology and Polish demonology, while pondering upon the contemporary spiritual conditon of Poles. The enigmatc “Slavic melancholy” remains the main inspiraton, as the band tried to extract it from their own DNA. ‘Slavic Spirits’ is an endeavour to get in touch with the world of a long and brutally lost culture which, due to lack of sources, will never be thoroughly explored.
Personnel: Marek Pedziwiatr (piano, synths & vocal), Vojto Monteur (guitar), Pawel Stachowiak (bass), Jakub Kurek (trumpet), Olaf Wegier (tenor saxophone), Marcin Rak (drums), Spisek Jednego (samples, sound fx & percussion), special guest: Tenderlonious (soprano saxophone & flute)
GRAILS don’t mince words. Awesomely communicative but entirely instrumental, this dynamic band’s violin, guitars, piano, and drums collide with sober melodies and massive emotion. At alternate moments, Grails can sound vaguely classical, Eastern European, Irish, like the lost tapes of Pauline Oliveros, and, you know, rock. They’re not really like anything else on the Neurot roster, but they’ve got something in common with all the Neurot bands: a commitment to intense music that forges new paths and, yeah, communicates in the most real way possible.
Grails have their fair share of ambient noise - shivery violins, a trickle of a high-hat, the amplified scrape of a guitar string - but their music is based on strong, narrative melodies that resonate in the heart. At times it sounds delicate, but they never cower; Grails ROAR, even when they’re being quiet.
The Burden of Hope is the debut LP, following a pair of self-released, eponymous ep’s in 2000 and 2002. The LP is the culmination of a year’s worth of recordings, including a reinterpretation of Sun City Girls’ classic “Space Prophet Dogon.”
Grails are gathered in Portland, Oregon from Baltimore, Little Rock, Louisville, Chapel Hill, and Reno. As an ensemble, their respective backgrounds in hardcore, classical, folk, and rock blend seamlessly. Formed in late 2000 to execute live the bedroom recordings of guitarist Alex Hall, the once-tentatively-assembled group found unexpected success with both audiences and local press. Originally formed under the moniker Laurel Canyon, the name of the group was changed to Grails to coincide with the release of The Burden
Afroterraneo Music founder Kiko Navarro joins forces with old friends and fellow Balearic heroes DJ Pippi and Willie Graff for the 'Tempistica Mistica EP', comprising two percussive, Afro-Latin flavoured prime cuts of dancefloor-ready House music.
Kiko Navarro met DJ Pippi and Willie Graff in the early 2000's, when he was resident at Pacha Mallorca. Making a pilgrimage to Pacha's Ibizan mothership to make sure two venues were musically aligned, he quickly became friends with Pippi, who was resident at the club, and Graff, who was hosting the Funky Room upstairs. Unbelievably, the three had never collaborated together before until December 2022, when Graff and Pippi finally visited Kiko's Mallorca studio and 'Tempistica Mistica' was born.
Heavily inspired by Cuban conga rhythms, opening track 'N'Fumbei' deftly blends live percussion, horns and vocals with pristine rhythmic synths and warm electronic touches to summon up a cosmic carnival taking place somewhere between the past and the future...
The floaty, piano-led 'Esanah' raises the tempo into timeless Latin House territory, paying homage to the fusion sounds pioneered by the likes of Julien Jabre & Dj Gregory in the late 90s, while updating the sonics and arrangements to sound completely fresh.
Finally, 'N'Fumbeats' strips 'N'Fumbei' down to bare bones and lets the percussion ride out, making an essential DJ weapon for those serious dancers.
Jasper Byrne Aka Sonic (sonic & Silver / Accidental Heroes) Spent The Late 90s & 00s Dropping Releases On Pretty Much Every Legendary D&b Label Going (reinforced, Metalheadz, Renegade Hardware, Formation, Virus, Soul:r And His Own Space Recordings), Before Mysteriously Disap-pearing To The Far East & Re-emerging Years Later As A Hit Indy Computer Games Developer (lone Survivor) & Soundtrack Artist (hotline Miami).
After A Chance Encounter With Dead Man's Chest At A Gig In La (where Jasper Had Been Working On A Game And Wholeheartedly Soaking Up The Local Low End Theory Music Scene), It Quickly Emerged The Two Had Shared Similar Musical Stories, Straying From Previous D&b Careers And Into The Musical Wilderness, Only To Drift Back Toward The Tempo With A New Found 'outsider' Approach And Eerily Familiar Conclusions..
After Teasing Us With 2018's 110174 Mixtape (ltd Edition Cassette Only Release) And His Appear- Ances On Blunted Breaks Vol.1, 2019 Sees Sonic Mark His Return To The World Of Dance Music Proper With This Two Part, Heavyweight Ep For Western Lore.
Blending Techno, Footwork, La Bass, Hardcore, Synthwave And D&b Under A Loose Jungle Tekno Framework, 110174 Sees Sonic Crafting Beats, Breaks & Bass With An Artisanal Deftness Rarely Seen.
Mal- One’s new single tells us about the punk fanzines that initially appeared in late 1976, but really exploded in 1977.They provided vital information on the scene and later became a great artefact of the time. A quick, fast, format, put together by fans of the music. It provided a great way to communicate with likeminded people. A couple of interviews with band members, that were keen to encourage the support. Culled together with some reviews of gigs attended and reviews of new releases, then quickly photocopied, stapled together and away you go. It’s amazing how many fanzines there were. Some examples are listed in the lyrics of this track. If you got your fanzine copies to Rough Trade, who seemed to take them all !!!, man you got it made. The hard copy these days seems a thing of the past and is sadly missed. Today’s messages arrive mainly in digital format. To take another example from the lyric ..Punk Rock Fanzines way to go…. and only 25p a go…
8 tracks of genuine mid-90s acid, techno, and ambient for fans of AGE, Spacetime Continuum, Caustic Window & Air Liquide.
Reissue of A3000 "Magnetic Gliding" album, produced by Swiss musicians Marco Repetto and Stefan Riesen, also known as Synectics on Rephlex and founders of Axodya Records. Originally released in 1995 on the Italian Disturbance label, it has now been remastered and proudly reissued for 2023 in a limited edition of 500 copies by Musique Pour La Danse. Enjoy this trip.
Marco Repetto was a member of the world-famous wave/punk band Grauzone. In the late '80s, he delved into techno, ambient, and psychedelic music, drawing inspiration from nature and shamanic knowledge. His performances are described as colorful, playful, and mind-opening experiences. His main project now is "Bigeneric," which he releases on his label, Inzec Records.
Stefan Riesen has been a prominent figure in the Swiss techno scene since 1995. He is the founder-manager of Phont Music, SuperBra, Morris/Audio, Floppy Funk, and Speaker Attack. He has (co-)produced numerous tracks under various aliases on different labels, including Box Blaze, Flaptrack, Hooper, Nylon, Sonic Tourism, Spin, A3000, Box Blaze & Deetron, Dialogue, Lausen, R.B.R., Sidestepper, Silver Zone, Skank Burner, Synectics, and more.
Bar Musica is a brand new label that promises to inject plenty of charm and originality into the underground house and techno world. The first release kicked up quite a storm from label owner Bartolomeo, and the second release features a trio of great originals by J Paraguai, with a remix from long time electronic talent Bruno Pronsato.
Rumba is up first and is a full fat, corrugated house track with tribal percussion, punchy drums that swing down low and Afro vocals. It is a dynamite groove with roughshod tin pot hits that are carefully treated and bring a lovably wild side to the track. Thesoundsays founder and Berlin based New Yorker Bruno Pronsato has been on the fringes of the underground for more than a decade with inventive EPs and LPs on labels like Hello repeat and Bosconi. His remix is stripped back to a forceful and rubbery techno groove. Blistered synths rip up the middle and spooky voices, trippy effects and manic loops all make it a freaky late night or after-hours tune that will send floors wild.
Ble is then another J Paraguai, and this one is again unhinged and urgent, with intense synths exploding above shuffling, tightly knotted minimal drums and sweeping pads. It's pure WTF music for brave DJs and dancers and is a truly original production.
Then last original Atles is rugged and impactful in the way in combines house and techno into new ideas. It is stripped back to little chopped loops that bury deep in your brain and have you in a trance in no time. As such, it rounds out a fine EP and keeps this exciting new label going off in great style.
Voted DJ Mag’s Underground Hero in 2022, DJ & producer Lauren Flax has been a fixture in Brooklyn’s electronic scene for two decades. On her latest project Liz & Lauren EP, she teams up with Liz Wight of shoegaze techno duo Pale Blue, whose sultry vocals explore questions of love and isolation to the tune of Detroit house and acidic techno.
Flax and Wight became fast friends in 2021 after being introduced by Pale Blue member & 2MR co-founder Mike Simonetti, who’d enlisted Flax to remix Pale Blue’s “Breathe.” Naturally, when Flax needed a vocalist for some tracks she was working on shortly after, she knew just who to call. “I was in my last year of grad school doing an internship in community mental health helping kids cope with the trauma of the pandemic,” Wight says of the time. She channelled this experience as she wrote and recorded the lyrics to Liz & Lauren EP from her home in Los Angeles.
As a result, the lyrics on Liz & Lauren EP are open-ended musings on connection, isolation, and convention. Lead single “Fix Everything” can be read both as an indictment of the trappings of marriage or, on Flax’s view, a rousing call to action, applicable to issues ranging from the degradation of the environment to the attack on LGBTQ+ rights in America. As the EP progresses, Wight’s airy vocals consider the pitfalls of love, from the destructive power of infatuation to the pain of outgrowing a relationship.
Sonically, Liz & Lauren EP feels like a natural progression from Flax’s first release on 2MR, 2021’s Out Of Reality, which saw her exploring a more minimalist production style for the first time in her work. “I Don’t Want To Hurt You” and “Fix Everything” pulse with bright, dynamic production, while slow burner “Return To Love” takes a sparser approach, anchored by a muted drumbeat and a simple, earworm synth refrain. “I’d Risk It All To Be With You” is a masterful balance of both; it even gets the club treatment on the EP’s closing remix, courtesy of Flax’s friends Mark Archer and Simon Neale (Shadow Child) of MASC.
Liz & Lauren EP is an impassioned collection that showcases both Flax and Wight’s artistry in equal measure. For both artists, it’s a testament to stepping outside the norm (DJing for Flax, performing in Pale Blue for Wight) and collaborating with others, the fruits of which are sure to be felt on the dancefloor for years to come.
Cover versions of international songs have long thrived in South Africa’s music industry. Often unable to license the original tracks (until the early 90s the result of an international boycott of the country) labels instead hired producers and session artists to re-record them for the local market. Early house music in SA was no different.
When Ron ‘Robot’ Friedman, former bass player for local rockers Rabbitt, was winding down his label On Records in the early 90s, he reached out for new inspiration as the popularity of ‘bubblegum’ disco waned. For one of the label’s final releases he hired young DJ/producer Quentin Foster, obsessed with the new soulful house sound coming out of the US, to take the reins on a studio project dubbed Citi Express.
On Robot’s insistence it included a cover of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Living for the City’ (from 1973’s Innervisions) as the title track. Foster set to work in his home studio, dubbed Tone Def, selecting and re-working other US and UK tracks — ‘It’s Too Late’ (originally released in 1989 by Kelli Sae), ‘Love is the Message’ (influenced by the 70s soul anthem and credited to Gamble & Huff but bearing a closer resemblance to Better Days’ 1990 release written by Steve Proctor), ‘People of The World’ (recorded by Sorell Johnson in the UK in 1990) and ‘Victim of Your Love’ (released in 1990 by Gary Vonqwest as ‘Victim of Love’) — adding some signature South African touches in the process that foreshadow the imminent rise of kwaito. One original composition was added for good measure, ‘Open Invitation’.
The result offers a glimpse into those early days of house, a uniquely South African take on a global sound that still resonates today — reissued for the first time on Afrosynth Records.
With one foot planted in jazz and the other in the township groove of Mbaqanga, saxophonist Sello Mmutung was a powerful crossover figure in the history of popular music in South Africa. Using the stage name Bra Sello, meaning “brother” and used as a term of affection and respect in the jazz community, he came up in the era of shellac 78s as an exponent of the 1960s sax jive sound that brought the swinging rhythm of kwela into the domain of South African jazz. Despite the injection of American rhythm and blues into South African pop in the late-1960s, Bra Sello’s first releases on vinyl on the CBS label saw him backed by the group Abafana Bentuthuko and holding down an unapologetic township sound.
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
With one foot planted in jazz and the other in the township groove of Mbaqanga, saxophonist Sello Mmutung was a powerful crossover figure in the history of popular music in South Africa. Using the stage name Bra Sello, meaning “brother” and used as a term of affection and respect in the jazz community, he came up in the era of shellac 78s as an exponent of the 1960s sax jive sound that brought the swinging rhythm of kwela into the domain of South African jazz. Despite the injection of American rhythm and blues into South African pop in the late-1960s, Bra Sello’s first releases on vinyl on the CBS label saw him backed by the group Abafana Bentuthuko and holding down an unapologetic township sound.
Joining the independent Soweto label under producer Cambridge Matiwane in the mid-1970s, Bra Sello recorded two records in the hit-making bump jive style popularised by serious jazz musician Dollar Brand on the one hand and prolific studio group the Movers, operating in funk and soul territory, on the other. Blending modern American and traditional African elements into joyful hip-swinging rhythms, Butterfly (1975) and The Battle of Disco (1977) reflect the vivacity of urban life in South Africa and document an era when dance music was performed by bands as extended jams laced with jaw-dropping solos. With music trends shifting dramatically in the late-1970s, the title of The Battle of Disco was an ironic call to arms in response to the territory that group musicians were beginning to cede to synthesisers and DJs.
For enthusiasts of African music from the 1970s, a full appreciation of the continent’s output is incomplete without South Africa’s pop-jazz sound providing a regional counterpoint to the funk experimentation of West Africa. Reissued for the very first time, Bra Sello returns in 2023 with limited replica editions from Afrodelic using master tape sources from the As-Shams/The Sun collection. Afrodelic’s unique edition of Butterfly features a previously unreleased track on Side B.
The latest Greyscale vinyl release is here and is destined to be a dub techno club staple. Featuring one of the best current dub techno producers in Federsen. This physical release is jam packed with club tracks as the flip side features remixes by the amazing Deadbeat and our own grad_u.
Federsen is elite with making catchy grooves like in the first featured track 'Penumbra'. The hypnotic sounds work terrifically in unison to form one of the most seductive tracks we have heard recently. Subtle movements and engrossing tribal rhythm make this a sure-fire dancefloor groover.
'Viridis' focuses more on the melodic chord side while it balances a wonderful deep dub bassline. Spatial and hypnotic are words that come to mind when we heard this for the first time. This is one of those tracks you sway and close your eyes too. Pure dream state stuff.
Deadbeat's dancehall dub Penumbra is magic. This has classic stamped all over it. The Dancehall description might put some classic dub techno fans off. Just come listen and experience this unique song. You just can't deny this! Sick.
Knowing that he is sharing a side with legendary Deadbeat, grad_u puts some extra muscle into his remix of 'Viridis'. Flighty and techy, we just love this futuristic fast-moving sound and we can't get enough of it. An awesome way to end the record.
Also, for an extra treat, there will be a 2 special remixes by Basicnoise of each main track added as bonuses to those who purchase the vinyl.
Greyscale vinyl #11 is sure to be one of the hottest techno records out this year!
You never have to guess what Tink’s thinking. The Chicago-born songstress and rapper says it all in her music. She spits, speaks, and sings straight from the heart without filter or apology. At the same time, she breaks boundaries, dropping off bars with uncontainable charisma and belting out hooks with show-stopping range. She can be romantic in one crescendo before getting raw in a bout of wild wordplay. This versatility consistently affirms her as a force in her own lane. Following her 2011 debut mixtape, “Winter’s Diary,” she dropped projects at a prolific pace, including “Alter Ego,” ‘Blunts & Ballads,” and “Boss Up.” 2014 saw “Winter’s Diary 2: Forever Yours” arrive to widespread critical acclaim, landing on year-end R&B album lists from Billboard and Rolling Stone. It also yielded “Treat Me Like Somebody,” which gathered 64 million Spotify streams and counting. A year later, XXL touted her among its coveted “Freshman Class.” Following a stint in the major label system, she embraced independence again with “Winter’s Diary 4” 2016, “Voicemails” 2019, “Hopeless Romantic” 2020, “A Gift And A Curse” 2020, and “Pillow Talk” (2023).
Oliver Rosemann is a DJ and producer from Leipzig, who has been active since the 90’s. During this time, he has made his experience with timeless techno exactly in the time of its creation, which can be seen later in his productions and DJ Sets.
In the Leipzig scene he played numerous live sets in the early 2000s, including at the 1040, one of the legendary clubs of the time. Increasingly, he began to show himself in public not only as a pure live act but also as a track producer. With the collaboration with MasCon called "dualit" he had first big releases on labels like Earwiggle, CLR or Fith Wall Records and also international gigs e.g. in Antwerp.
To date, there are close to 180 tracks and remixes, including 3 LPs, released on labels such as MindTrip, MORD Records, Warm Up Recordings, Pole Group, Stockholm LTD and many more. Pfirter and Oliver started producing together in 2019 and presented their first joint 4 tracker “Alpha EP” in 2020 on MindTrip Music.
Whether as a live act or as a DJ, he knows how to create a dark, driving, ecstatic atmosphere on dance floors. He has already proven this in clubs like Tresor Berlin, Distillery, Institut für Zukunft, About Blanc and also in other countries in Europe. Numerous podcasts recorded by him or live cuts from parties, which were released over the years by renowned crews such as "Reclaim Your City" or "Staub", show this.
And now follows Oliver’s next release on NEXT DOOR with the ND006. The a side is Olivers side with A1-Surface- a track with deep impact and to dance. A2-your highscore- is Olivers remix, grandiosely interpreted to immerse yourself in the universe of patterns. The B side belongs to TC/CM or written out- the computer controlled minds. B1-your highscore- comes in the original danceable and playful at the same time from the turntable. B2-Surface- remix by TC/CM hammers through the PA straight onto the floor.
Recorded live during Nuits Sonores, Brussels, 2022. Tomorrow Comes The Harvest is a theory initiated and put into action by late Afro Beat creator and Nigerian Drummer Tony Allen and Deroit Techno’s Jeff Mills. Each belonging to a long tradition of using music to reach higher levels of consciousness, along with veteran keyboardist Jean-Phi Dary, the three toured internationally until the untimely death of Tony Allen in 2020.
Boss Priester makes his LOCUS debut with his bustling four-track ‘Hotel Dijon’ EP.
Working hard in the studio to develop his own take on minimal-leaning house and techno, The Hague-based DJ/ producer Boss Priester is starting to reap the rewards and emerge as another hotshot from the country’s hotbed of electronic talent. Racking up support from the likes of Dungeon Meat, East End Dubs, Michel de Hey, Dr. Banana and Alec Falconer, his releases on What NxT and Dark Side Of The Sun have accompanied appearances at the likes of Thuishaven, Colorado Charlie and Lovelee. Another fan of the young Dutchman is FUSE and LOCUS boss Enzo Siragusa, and late September brings a first appearance on the latter imprint as he makes his label debut with his four-track ‘Hotel Dijon’ EP.
Title track ‘Hotel Dijon’ comes loaded with raw drum licks, cosmic synths and menacing, swirling low-ends for a heavy-hitting opener set to cause serious dance floor damage, while the slinking ‘ROF66’ mixes eerie stabs with shuffling drums and bouncy baselines for another heavyweight anthem. Next, ‘SUP01’ keeps things ticking nicely on a similar tip with yet more punchy percussion arrangements linking with playful sound design peppered with zippy FX, before closing the show with the hopped-up, bass-driven sonics of final effort ‘Wek’.
Boss Priester ‘Hotel Dijon’ EP drops via LOCUS on 22nd September 2023.
Finger Prince recordings deliver the ‘Finger Prince Sampler’ for their latest vinyl release.
This four tracker welcomes two new artists to the label, House of Styles (aka Matt Styles of Horizontal Studios) and Mark Solo. They will be joining Bart Ricardo and Pale People who appeared with remixes on the successful ‘Make U Feel project’ by Lil’Mark, along with Rob Mello on this label's debut.
First up is the House of Styles Remix of ‘Catatonic’ by Phonic Crunch, a track from their forthcoming E.P on the label. Then Bart Ricardo shares side A with ‘Crystal Satellite’.
Side B opens with ‘Talk’ by Pale People before Mark Solo introduces himself to the label with ‘Minibeatz’.
Continuing where Oddkut and Abstrakt Sonance’s FKOFv007 left off, our 8th record is a collaborative affair – three artists, four tunes and a whole lot of weight. 11th Hour is one of our long-standing collaborators, having appeared on our second ever EP back in 2013, and Substrada is quickly following in Jason’s footsteps with his latest outing with us. And, as you’d suspect, we’re delighted to welcome Charles back after his epic (collab) FKOFd046 in 2020. Last, but definitely not least, we welcome Kusmo to the FKOF family – an artist we’ve super excited about.
“FKOFv008’s been doing the rounds for most of 2022, with two solo outings for Substrada and two collaborative efforts. We’ve had some epic DJ support from the likes of Mala, but it’s hard to choose a favourite from across this record. ‘Coolin’ With The Gang’ is signature Substrada; all spooky atmospheres, suffocating sub pressure and a few vocal samples that have upset a few radio stations over the last 12 months. It’s a banger. The second A- side is the meditative ‘Predator Flow’ – eyes down power and our favourite beats, bass and space recipe. Watch for this one! The third inclusion, the Kusmo collab entitled ‘Wump’, does what you’d expect. It is, as it proudly exclaims, “the shit”. We’re excited to see where these two take their efforts (separately and together)! The record closes with the absolute scenes ‘Colossus’ has inspired across the dance floors this year, with Substrada and 11th Hour joining forces to create one of our tunes of the year. It is relentless.
“FKOF Records celebrates its tenth birthday in 2023 and we’ve got some epic physical releases coming to celebrate our decade of 140bpm. Substrada’s FKOFv008 gives you some idea of what we’ve got coming, and we hope you enjoy these four tunes (from three of our favourite producers!) as we close out 2022. Thank you for all your support this year, and we’ll see you on the flipside.
For the 30th anniversary of the release of the first single by Frankie HI NRG MC 'Fight Da Faida' Irma Records together with the artist have decided to pack an unreleased collector's version of the song.
The new look is in 7-inch format (45 rpm) in a limited edition on white vinyl with a gatefold format cover containing, in addition to a photo of the artist of the time and one of today, the original lyrics of the song and a text by the well-known journalist and radio and television host Luca De Gennaro who was the first to notice the artist.
The song Fight Da Faida has been seminal for the evolution of Italian Hip Hop.
At the time, few such songs had come out and they were all known mostly on the alternative circuits. Fight Da Faida, despite its harsh and explicit text against the mafias, was the first to have real radio programming on national networks.
It was also obviously the launching pad of the artist who later released his first album 'Verba Manent' which also contains this single.
The new format contains the original version, the instrumental version and the 'famous' Sicilian nursery rhyme 'Tri Tri Tri Trinacria Breakdown' which over the years has been repeatedly sampled abroad for club music songs.
After a long hiatus, the vinyl imprint "Endless Rotation" emerges once again with "You Name It EP." This time, label owner Fred Brune teams up with Willi Schumacher, also known as WIRED. The result is a collaborative A-side that takes listeners on a spacey minimal journey, accompanied by a captivating looped pad phrase reminiscent of the early 2000s German minimal sound. Fred Brune contributes an additional lively percussive groover, showcasing a prominent dirty saw-tooth bassline. On the flipside, Paul Walter, a highly acclaimed artist from Vienna, delivers a mesmerizing 14-minute minimal remix of "You Name It", skillfully reimagining the acoustic drums with an innovative twist.
After Jamuse Records favourable outcome, the Swiss label is delighted and honored to unveil its latest vinyl release featuring the talented Romanian artist Lumieux.
Titled "Gemini Road," this EP consists of three tracks. The title track presents a captivatingly glitchy and rhythmic style, adorned with warm sub-bass and distinctive vocal elements. The offbeat rhythm adds a unique touch that sets the track apart.The offbeat rhythm adds a unique touch that sets the track apart. "Fuzzy Formats" skilfully blends human and robotic voices with beats, accompanied by inviting warm bass and crisp treble notes.Bringing the EP to a captivating conclusion, "Lemesleep" takes listeners on a hypnotic adventure enriched by evocative pads and skillfull glitches.
In its entirety, "Gemini Road" guides your auditory senses on a mesmerizing journey through the realms of magical minimal house music. This sonic voyage is not solely characterized by its warm sub-bass and glitchy elements but also by its diverse and eclectic textures. Lumieux's inspirational touch is the driving force behind this EP, elevating it to a gem within its genre.
Duo Drunken Kong step up for their Drumcode debut.
The residents at Tokyo’s legendary Womb have a distinct sound signature, as dreamy melodic and vocal elements rub shoulders with the pair’s trademark groove-orientated rhythms to create hypnotic techno outings that span the breadth of the genre, from heads down rollers to peak-time pleasure.
Their maiden outing on Drumcode is an inspiring four-track work ‘I Want To See’ that lays down this sonic manifesto, with each track built around different vocal samples used to skilful effect.
EP opener ‘It’s Then’ brings atmosphere in spades, mixing up a chugging bottom end, a sleek synth line and a sublime vocal that simmers throughout.
The title track is another late-night dancefloor affair that shifts between function and fun, as a slick mix of polished grooves and hypnotising melodies build towards a thrilling crescendo. ‘That’s It’ brings peak-time energy against a plump electro backbone and ’90-tinged vocal.
The EP rounds out with evocative ‘Need It’, as a stirring vox and metallic drumlines propel the track forward.
Most Excellent Unlimited is happy to announce the next release in its series of collaborations with master DJ and editor "Mr. K". Two exceptional deep classic album gems skillfully cut down to a maximum 7" 45rpm format, Luther’s “Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)” and Zulema’s “Giving Up.”
Long before “Never Too Much” and his other solo hits, Luther Vandross was an in-demand backup singer and vocal arranger, working with luminaries like Carly Simon, Bette Midler, and Donna Summer, along with his stand out performances in Change, Bionic Boogie, & so many more. Perhaps his most significant role, however, was backing David Bowie on the 1975 Young Americans album. It was during these sessions that Bowie heard Luther’s song “Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)” and re-tooled it to become the Bowie/Vandross joint composition “Fascination,” which went on to become a successful Bowie single.
For the latest edition of Most Excellent Unlimited’s series of edits, Mr. K has gone back to the original source, credited to the group (not the solo artist) Luther (which also features Christine Wiltshire). Mr. K's technique on this edit is cleverly subtle, in the process giving us the first opportunity to get almost the entire full-length song on compact 7-inch wax, keeping that irresistible building energy that places the track firmly on dancefloor-friendly territory.
“Giving Up” was the opening track on Zulema’s second LP, and given the drama of the intro, with its rolling piano, string ensemble, and piercing guitar, it’s not hard to hear why it was effective in that role. Mr. K’s edit benefits from a crystal clear remastering in which each element of the band is distinct in the soundfield, led by Zulema’s gutsy vocals upfront. Originally a 1964 Gladys Knight tearjerker that crept along at a tango’s pace, Zulema’s 1973 cover gives the song a new, powerfully soulful arrangement, championed by such disparate eras and tastemakers as Nicky Siano at the Gallery in the ’70s and breakbeat hunters the Beatnuts in the ’90s that has easily found favor with a wide variety of listeners and DJs, and this new issue should solidify that position. Never before available on 7-inch, “Giving Up” is a bonafide funk and proto-disco classic —
Long Beach legend Scotty Coats links the West Coast eclecticism of Stones Throw to the NYC cool of DFA and Rong to the Balearic gods of DJ Harvey et al. He personally introduced Be With to Ned Doheny 10 years ago and he was immortalised on Smith & Mudd's last LP. And he's the main man behind the mysteriously titled duo Todd Russell & The Dangerous Coats, alongside Erick "Todd" Coomes (Lettuce founder/bassist).
In very real danger of being lost forever, we unearthed two of their private recordings and present them as a double A-Side 12", adorned with S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G artwork, courtesy of Arizona artist Frank Gonzales.
"Playa Larga" is a melodic, mellow masterpiece and is quintessentially Balearic. It's stretched out, low slung, guitar-soaked drum-machine soul music. It's multi-layered and contains multitudes: it builds and builds and builds and mesmerises as it does so. On the flip, "1900 Ocean Avenue" is a super slo-mo, sunbaked drug-chug which is already blowing minds thanks to early leaks of this cosmic, psychedelic detonation.
On first listen back, Erick said to Scotty: “So wait, nothing really happens, I mean nothing bad happens but nothing really happens”. Apparently these tracks were a bit foreign for Erick, musically, because of the lack of structure in the songs.
One morning, years later, Erick called Scotty and excitedly declared: “dude, I get it now!”. He was listening to random music with a lady friend while watching the sunrise in his 1900 Ocean Ave apartment and "Playa Larga" came on randomly. He'd forgotten all about it and said he had to get up and see what song it was because "it was the perfect soundtrack for a psychedelic sunrise over the ocean."
And that's exactly how we came across it, circa 2018, randomly popping up on a playlist while we were busy doing other things. It stopped us in our tracks but, when trying to find any info on iTunes, we were out of luck. It was only years later that we worked out Scotty had sent it to us. Ever since, we've been working on getting this out to you all. It's finally time.
We've only 500 pressed for the world, with many of them spoken for by those lucky enough to be already ITK, so these are gonna fly: be warned!
Scotty is a world class raconteur so we'll hand over to him to explain how these songs came about and why they mean so much to him in the context of his wider raison d'être:
"These were made 13 years ago when I was a new dad and left my job at Ubiquity Records to provide security for my newborn son, Nolan Liam Chai Coats. I became miserable working a job outside of music for the first time in my life and I was laid off 4 months into it. I was left wondering how the fuck am I going to provide for my family?
I lived in Long Beach and Erick lived a few blocks away. I would walk to his house when Jen finally got Nolan to sleep so I could escape my panic, drink some beers (is it beerlearic?) and make some music. He lived overlooking the ocean with the Queen Mary on the horizon, so I guess mellow Long Beach nights unintentionally inspired the music. These songs were the first two songs we ever made and they embody the desperation and hope I really needed at that time. 12 years later, when Rob at Be With expressed an interest in releasing it, we had Erick's brother Tyler Tycoon Coomes play drums on it at Jazzcats Studio in LBC, with Jonny Bell.
Shortly after I was laid off, I discovered The Stepkids. I was blown away by "Shadows On Behalf" and sent it on to Gilles Peterson. He played it on Worldwide the next day. The Stepkids pulled me back into music and made me realize I wasn't prepared to do anything but be involved with music. After I heard their unreleased album, I knew there was something there so I sent it to my good friend Jamie Strong who was at Stones Throw at the time. Jamie passed it along to Peanut Butter Wolf and the band asked me to be their manager. I didn't think I was the right guy for the job but wanted to see them do well so I told them I would help shop their album. Jamie suggested I take his place at Stones Throw, just as he did when he left Ubiquity Records. I always joke that Jamie can call me Scotty Coat Tails because I had been riding his for years.
Wolf told him that "Scotty is a nice guy but has horrible taste in music", which was ironic because he was literally trying to sign the band that I brought him. The Stepkids signed with Stones Throw and found a real manager. 6 or so months later Jamie sent me a note saying "Stones Throw is hiring and you should apply lol". I told him I was going to send my resume and the subject of the email was to read I HAVE GREAT FUCKING TASTE IN MUSIC. I did just that and got a call the next day from their new GM asking me to come in for an interview. When I walked in I was in Wolf's office where I had been 6 months before, signing The Stepkids
deal. Wolf and Jason McGuire were asking me some questions and wanted to introduce me to Jeff Jank. Jank walked in and said "Isn't this the guy that Jamie wanted to bring on 6 months ago?" They confirmed and he threw his hands up and walked out saying "I've seen enough". I got the job. I worked there for 2 or 3 years until I left to join forces with Jamie Strong at his label and stayed there for almost 7 years."
Scotty wanted to use a painting by his good friend, Frank Gonzales, for the front cover image. Frank was incredibly generous in letting us use this one, and Scotty was completely honoured. We think you'll agree, it's pretty striking. Simon Francis carefully mastered the original audio for both tracks and Cicely Balston's precise cut for Alchemy at AIR Studios ensures this double A-side 12" sounds appropriately outstanding. The immaculate Record Industry pressing will ensure these previously unheard, recently discovered recordings finally get a chance to shine.
In the late 2000s a sprawling catalog of what is now genre-defining music was emanating from an unlikely place. Cleveland, Ohio has a broad reputation for many things, but in the aughts, psyche-expanding Kosmische wasn’t necessarily Cleveland’s calling card… until Emeralds. The trio of John Elliott, Steve Hauschildt, and Mark McGuire had released a profusion of limited-run cassettes, CD-Rs, and vinyl titles that had been passed around basement shows and then migrated to niche music communities online, creating a unique kind of murmur, even in the height of the DIY blog era. Three kids from the rust belt were crafting a distinctive and truly far-out strain of music on their own terms in the Midwest. They were flipping lids in wood-paneled basements and circulating around the underground with soaring sounds stylistically indebted to deep German electronic music pioneers and released with the ethos and twisted fervor of renegade Midwestern noise freaks. After several releases garnered a die-hard fandom in niche circles of internet/music culture, and then catching the attention of the late Peter Rehberg, the renowned artist and curator of the Editions Mego label, an expectation was set that the next Emeralds record was going to be a big one. And in 2010, Does it Look Like I’m Here? was it.
mp3s of this album; they can finally get a fresh copy on vinyl. Does It Look Like I’m Here? became a hallmark that would carve a path for an entire scene. Ghostly International is thrilled to reissue the album, remastered by Heba Kadry, including 7 bonus tracks exclusive to the digital album and CD. The limited edition 2xLP includes extensive liner notes by Chris Madak (Bee Mask).
Released in 1965, this is Gladys Knight and The Pips’ first and only studio album for Maxx Records. Gladys and this family foursome signed with Larry Maxwell’s label in 1964, and after several successful singles, Maxwell was responsible for taking the group to Motown. Pressed here for the first time in almost six decades, 12 soul sides full of grace and grit, remastered and reissued on heavyweight virgin vinyl.
The recordings that springboarded Gladys Knight and the Pips to Motown Records. First ever reissue since the original Maxx LP in 1965 (six decades later!) Pressed on black virgin vinyl, with original artwork. Beautiful soul recordings - remastered for superior quality.
Named after the theoretical breakdown of the basic elements of conscious experience, Alfa Mist's latest album 'Structuralism' is based around a conversation between Mist and his sister, discussing themes of debate culture and personal growth and is an intricate and profound glimpse into the East London artist's battles with self and the societal pressures that inform our own conscious experience.
The dynamic duo of Komponente & Kurilo from the Ukrainian label Trance Pandemic are preparing for their next sold-out record. This “Defenders” EP is made from tracks, that were made before the full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine and also it is the continuation of “For A Brave” EP.
The main track of the release, also called “Defenders” is a signature piece for their duo. Moderately slow and calm, that evolves into something bigger around the third minute. The mayhem of sounds with that hell’s bells also. And there’s a little Easter egg at 1:29. If you know the sample – you’ll smile for a bit.
The record starts with “Victory”. Bold, a bit broken at the beginning piece, that is also evolving. This time we’re talking about the structure. The straight one comes after that broken start. “Kharkiv Mnemonic” also has some bells inside, paired with a nice, bubbling acid and a heavenly melody a bit closer to the end. The calmest track on the release.
Last, but definitely not least (the choice for the pick was between these two from the B-side) is “Broken Dreams”. Still can’t get enough of that break that we know lately from Alec Falconer’s release on Art Of Dark (not that lately, to be honest) and a dozen of other tracks. Here it’s hidden a bit in the back, so we can hear another kinda trancey and melancholic melody in full.
Chris Black Changed My Life is the follow-up to 2017's Woodstock and dedicated to their late friend Chris Black, who sometimes acted as their hype man at shows. The album was produced by Jeff Bhasker, and some songs, including "Thunderdome W.T.A," "Summer of Luv," "Time’s a Fantasy," "Champ," and "Anxiety:Clarity"
microCastle’s third offering of 2023 welcomes Ditian back to the label for his first artist EP. Splitting time between Buenos Aires, Berlin and Barcelona, the Argentinean artist has carved out a unique place in the electronic underground over the last half decade. With an immediately recognizable sonic signature, Ditian channels languages of varied musical landscapes, churning them into his own complex rollercoaster of intricate electronica. A sound that is equally at home on rebellious dance floors around the world or in the sweet spot of a late-night leftfield listening session. A short but meticulous discography reflects Ditian's choosy nature; with Exit Strategy, Innervisions and TAU serving as the primary landing spots for his musical output. Having remixed Ivory’s ‘Arpstairs’ for his microCastle debut last summer, a project which was followed by a contribution to Dixon and Ame’s Secret Weapons 15 collection to begin the year, Ditian now returns to the label with a four-track showcase entitled ‘Serpenta’.
The crushing title track crashes in and sets any preconceived ideas of Ditian’s music alight, forecasting jet force propulsions and wild signal bending synths. As somewhat of a departure from his previous experiments, Ditian’s clustered pungi mutations provide an enduring main theme, while a wonderfully warped break is sure to cast a paranoid spell over the dancefloor.
‘Venena’ follows in fine style and further hammers down Ditian’s elusive vision. Dizzying, rapid-fire sequences of rhythm, granular textures and heavily manipulated synths travel to the very edges, while maelstroms of drums and contorted basslines highlight a high-octane second act.
‘Inertia’ lands at the collection’s midway point and does so in remarkably twisted fashion, stepping decisively on the gas and steering into shadowy transgressions. Never one to shy away from darkness or pushing boundaries, Ditian’s metallic storyboarding rises and falls across act one, consciously withholding energy, as grooves pulse and effects orbit, creating tension that eventually gets resolved as clusters burst open and oscillate in kaleidoscopic fashion.
Ditian’s creative attitude reveals itself further on collection closer ‘Influenza’. Presenting some of his most club-adjacent rhythms yet, it’s a clever coax of billowing tones and scrappy melodica which get wrapped up in a concordant fog, eventually getting washed away; because after all, the oceanic drones are all the better when they’re magnified to full size.
Water Machine is an office romance between Hando Morice (they/them), Flore de Hoog (she/her), Jimmy Gage (he/him) and Goda Ilgauskaitė (she/her). An unassuming supergroup formed out of Glasgow institutions including Goth GF, Passion Pusher, Brenda and Soursob, their sound careens between punk, country and alt-rock underpinned by the unique quality they call “Raw Liquid Power”.
Following last year’s self-titled demo tape on Gold Mold Records, and fresh off of shows with the likes of Holiday Ghosts, The Cool Greenhouse and The Orielles, as well as a rollicking Viagra Boys afterparty, the four-piece will release their highly-anticipated first studio effort ‘Raw Liquid Power’ on Upset The Rhythm on August 4th.
The EP opens with a menacing, modulating synth melody. Gage’s guitar enters with a mighty bend before breaking into the chugging rhythm of ‘Water Machine Pt. 2’. This timely reminder to refill your water bottle - “don’t be late, hydrate!” less a wellness mantra than a threat - builds to a spacey outro with flashes of the art-punk weirdness of Suburban Lawns. ‘Stilettos’ marches on indignantly with a spiky riff punctuated by Ilgauskaitė’s cowbells. Staccato talk-singing tells a playful tale of stray cats following you home, but belies a darker subtext as the breakdown gives way to paranoid duelling guitars evoking The Fire Engines.
The anti-anthem ‘At the Drive In’ skewers joyless DIY crowds, reminiscent of much-missed Glasgow punks Breakfast Muff. Water Machine’s irrepressible sincerity can’t help but shine through in the final moments though, as jibes about “late night trade potential” give way to plaintive vocal harmonies. Morice tears public transport a new one on closer ‘Bussy’, a First Bus diss track bemoaning precarious employment amidst crumbling infrastructure. “That’s why I’m not on time!” they roar over de Hoog’s frantic, pounding bass, bringing the record to a skidding, screeching halt.
No. 1 in the charts in more than 20 countries with more than 2.6 million physical singles sold, a mythical video clip that is shown H24 on all TV channels, nominated for an MTV Award & Victoire de la musique, the most broadcast French song in the world for two years in a row... 20 years later, Starlight still arouses an unfailing love. The opportunity to revive this classic with a '20th Anniversary' collector's vinyl reissue.
Starlight exploded and broke all records when it was released at the beginning of the millennium. 20 years later, the industry has completely transformed but the track still boasts eloquent statistics with over 200M streams! A classic that is all the more notorious for having been part of the advent of a new genre that would mark the history of music: the "French Touch", shaped by Daft Punk, Stardust, Cassius, Etienne de Crécy, Modjo, and thus The Supermen Lovers.
The opportunity to revive this icon with a collector's vinyl reissue; new mix, new master, new disco version.
John Howard was one of the best and most creative DJs of the west coast house scene back in the 90’s. His mixes and productions were full of house groove, soul, breaks and jazzy rhythms. This new series on Repeat contains of three parts including Howard’s best productions. These tracks are all huge influence for many producers that later discovered these kind of psychedelic house grooves on European based DJ sets… John Howard was on his own journey much ahead of time and his music still sound absolutely incredible 25 years later… Mesmerizing release.
Repressed! Jurassic 5 flexed serious old-to-the-new muscles in the ‘90s, beginning with their independently released single “Unified Rebelution” in 1994, and book-ending with their stellar debut full-length: 2000’s Quality Control. They walked a tightrope between underground and mainstream hip-hop, and toured alongside rap peers as well as punk rockers on the Vans Warped Tour. With double the pleasure of your average hip-hop group – two DJs and producers (Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark); and four MCs (Chali 2na, Akil, Marc 7 and Zaakir aka Soup) – they brought the late 1970s “unison MC” style of pioneering groups like the Fantastic 5 and the Force MCs to a new generation. Even more surprisingly, they did so out of Los Angeles, whose hip-hop flavors generally leaned towards Gangsta, G-Funk or Electro lines. Musically inventive and lyrically forward-thinking, each song on Quality Control is a new adventure, exploring engaging territory, delivered via one of the best live hip-hop shows fans had seen in years. From singles like the strutting groove of the title track to the throwback doo-wop samples on “The Influence” and the catchy, keyboard groove-driven “World of Entertainment (WOE Is Me),” to deeper album tracks like the lyrical gymnastics of “Jurass Finish First” and the thought-provoking “Lausd,” Jurassic 5 consistently stepped to the plate and their fans responded in kind, nearly pushing the album to Gold status. Add the innovative DJ-and-sample workout which closes out the album, “Swing Set,” and you have one of the 2000s’ most unique and solid full-length platters.
If you look at the artist line up of our new release, a press info is actually pretty obsolete, but I thought I´d write a few words anyway. Oniris from the south of France is really on the rise with his latest music on Laurent's Cod3QR and upcoming music on Bedrock or Systematic and when I got in touch with him to talk about releasing on Break New Soil, he sent „Stay“ and „Wild Thing“ - I was sold instantly! When thinking of adding a remix, I contacted my good old friend Josh Wink to see if he would be up for it and I honestly couldn´t be more blown away by the result. Josh's rework is a no-nonsense Techno anthem that surprises on first listen while leaving no doubt that it´s a trademark Wink production with his subtle and sophisticated beat stunts and impeccable sound profile. Additionally Josh delivered an Acid Version plus a dub mix! We think this is one of the biggest releases on our label ever and can't wait for you to check it out.
As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, Bill Withers' Still Bill remains true to its title – and stands as the greatest male-fronted soul album not made by a singer named Marvin, Al, Sam, James, or Ray. Though the saying "keeping it real" did not exist in popular parlance when Withers released his sophomore effort on Sussex Records, no words better capture the music's approach, mindset, and value. Every facet of Still Bill radiates honesty, truth, and emotion.
These characteristics – along with Withers' strong singing, hybrid arrangements, and deceptively simple songwriting – have allowed the album to endure to the point where it sounds as fresh today as in 1972.
After rising into the Top 5 of the Billboard Album charts and attaining gold status within a year of release, Still Bill has long been evaluated not by sales – but according to its merit, spirit, and agelessness. Included by The Guardian on its "1,000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list (2007) as well as in Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die book (2008), its contemporary standing as one of history's most venerated soul efforts eclipses the positive reception it enjoyed in the early ‘70s.
Still Bill walks the same hallowed ground as What's Going On, Call Me, Night Beat, and Genius + Soul = Jazz. Like those landmarks, Still Bill plays with a mix of consistency, effortlessness, and complexity that rewards repeat listening and transcends categorization.
In combining four of the era's predominant styles – Philly soul, sweaty funk, Southern-reared blues, acoustic-based folk – and melding them with standout production borrowed from both minimalist affairs and sophisticated singer-songwriter albums, Still Bill occupies a distinct universe.
Its rhythmic fare is equally laidback and invigorating; relaxing and rollicking; eloquent and muscular; soft and tough. Withers' calm, self-assured voice hovers above it all, doubling as a warm blanket that adds comfort and grace to lyrics steeped in maturity, perspective, and compassion.
Withers' balanced outlook on human desires, needs, and situations stem from his own existence as a former blue-collar employee who believed his time as a musician would soon end. That grounding forever separates Withers from other contemporary soul greats – and stamps Still Bill with a conversational nature and egoless approachability.
"I mean look, I'm really a factory worker," said Withers in 1972. "That's a real job." There's that word again: real. The songs on Still Bill are tethered to modesty and actuality, wedded to a belief in simplicity, and connected to universal truths that link us all – independent of our economic or social standing. No track better exemplifies those principles than "Lean on Me," a feel-good paean to brotherhood and community that hit No. 1 on the pop and R&B charts en route to becoming a mainstream staple.
Withers approaches the plainspoken insight on "Lonely Town, Lonely Street" and heartbreaking vulnerability of "I Don't Want You on My Mind" with similar sincerity and straightforwardness. His proclivity for authenticity extends to the record's other big hit: the sexual, funk-laden "Use Me," which reached No. 2 and reflects the singer's everyman persona. It's an identity couched in keeping it real, the very inclination that ultimately led Withers to retire in the mid-'80s rather than bend to industry pressures or risk credibility.
That commitment to truthfulness and realism helps make Still Bill feel as unaffected as the air we breathe. Looking back on "Lean on Me" years later, Withers said it seemed like "something that was there before I got here" – the kind of song that could be 100 or 10 years old, or one we encounter anew 10 years into the future. The same can be said for every note on Still Bill.
Intergenerational trio Dry Speed is one of the best-kept secrets of the Belgian free jazz and improvisation scene. Formed in the early 2000’s, trumpet player Joachim Devillé and saxophonist Thomas Olbrechts were in their twenties at that time, while drummer – their teacher at the art school in Brussels - Dirk Wauters was already in his fifties. Logically, twenty years later the first one are in their forties and the third one in his seventies. They only released a couple of CDs before “Indium” but never stopped to play, for themselves and for audiences, in concerts.
'Too often we describe music using classifications; genres like “jazz,” “experimental,” “avant- garde” are an easy shorthand to relay the rough parameters of the music to another person who may not have heard it. But these words are useful because they’re so vague, and they are most often used when the impression the music makes is equally vague. But when a group makes sounds that move the listener, these terms don’t hold up.
Dry Speed has released a record that is, at turns, futuristic and organic. It feels alien and new, like plastic or titanium, but at the same time as if it is shrouded in the natural, growing like moss or amplifying the sound of a great tree’s roots. ‘Indium’ gives the listener multiple entry points into the trio’s music: from a broad soundscape to a densely knitted series of minute and exacting musical gestures.'
- Nate Wooley
After the inevitable success of L'Hiver des crêtes (aka season 1 of their major new project celebrating 40 years of approximate punk), Ludwig Von 88 are back for new adventures in a second season entitled Le Printemps du Pogo. This second vinyl album (of the four planned this year) is this time illustrated by LauL (iconic graphic designer of the 80s - Bérurier Noir, Ludwig Von 88, Mylène Farmer, Patrick Topaloff).
Fourteen tracks packed with love, joy, shitty jobs, noisy neighbours, flowery pogos, fried chicken, unsanitary dungeons and a negative carbon footprint.
There are some good traditional Keupon numbers, but also ska, reggae, yodelling (Yodel to Hell), a universal anthem of destructive punk (Youplapunk), swing, the follow-up to Fistfuck Playa Club (New Club) and Kaliman (Kaliman saves the world), and the long-awaited conclusion, 38 years later, to their interstellar hit J'ai tué mon père (J'ai sauvé mon père). Or the hit Let it burn, which we'll probably be able to sing along to during the long hot days to come.
Thirteen of these songs have already been released on the internet (at a rate of one a week, because the Ludwigs like periodicity, and that's why they keep coming back and coming back) but the fourteenth track, Casques Rouges, is completely new to the galaxy.
So here's something to liven up the weeks of holiday that are just around the corner. On the beach, in the mountains or in the forest, approximate punk remains salvific and Ludwig Von 88 are its most faithful servants.
Eli Escobar returns for his 9th full length LP. While his last few projects found him exploring downtempo beats, EBM and ambient in§uences, this latest offering of Eli's studio craftsmanship marks a return to the sound of his early releases like Up All Night and Happiness. Warm samples expertly woven into classic drum machine rhythms and searing synth lines, The Beach Album takes listeners on a journey through golden era hip hop beats, feel-good NYstyled house grooves into sweaty techno bangers. Similar to Eli's DJ sets, the 16 track long player has something for everyone. Created during the uncertainty of the pandemic when as Eli put it, "It didn't feel like the right time to release dance music," The Beach album celebrates the return of NY nightlife and optimism for the future.
Welcome to Soul4Real’s second album, a collection of originally unreleased tracks which feature a whole host of soul royalty.
First off are two songs from the inimitable Bobby Bland, both of which hail from his prolific period at Duke Records.
Sandwiched between two stunning Chicago recordings by Etta James is the later “I Never Meant To Love Him”, taken from a Philly session she recorded with Bobby Martin.
Fontella Bass brings this side to a close with a mysterious Chicago recording of which, to this day, hardly anything is known.
Side two transports us to Detroit, when Motown was at the peak of its output. 1966 was not a good year to secure the approval of quality control, as proven in the rejection of this wonderful Velvelettes´ version of “Your Heart Belongs To Me”.
It was in that same year that Ashford and Simpson arrived at Hitsville as both singers and songwriters. Their “Love Woke Me Up This Morning” was recorded by Brenda Holloway and produced by Norman Whitfield. Despite being overlooked at the time, its appeal was undeniable, and it later resurfaced on albums by Marvin & Tammi, Valerie Simpson, and the Temptations.
As an integral member of the Motown family for over 14 years, it is surprising that to date only three songs recorded by Johnny Bristol have surfaced. In collaboration with ‘Mickey’ Stevenson “Tell Me How To Forget A True Love” was completed in May 1964.
“One Lucky Day I Found You” was inexplicably not included in the ‘David’ project. Ruffin´s later work with Van McCoy is also featured on this album.
From almost the start of his career, Marvin Gaye had endeavored to project himself as a great balladeer, and nothing could illustrate this better than his rendition of “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”, which brings this chapter to a perfect end.
Nach einem Jahrzehnt der Abwesenheit erwachen The Mars Volta aus ihrer langjährigen Auszeit mit einem gleichnamigen Album, das ihr Selbst-verständnis radikal reformiert.
The Mars Volta wurden 2001 von Gitarrist/Komponist Omar Rodríguez-López und Sänger/Texter Cedric Bixler-Zavala gegründet und gingen aus der Punk-Rock-Band At The Drive-In aus El Paso hervor. Mit dem Ziel, "unsere Wurzeln und unsere Toten zu ehren", schufen The Mars Volta Musik, die die lateinamerikanischen Klänge, mit denen Rodríguez-López aufwuchs, mit dem Punk und Underground-Lärm, in den er und Bixler-Zavala jahrelang eingetaucht waren, und den futuristischen Visionen, die sie verfolgten, fusionierte.
Die folgenden Alben waren einzigartige Meisterwerke, deren Songs von atemberaubender Komplexität und zugleich von kraftvoller emotionaler Unmittelbarkeit geprägt waren.
Nachdem die Gruppe verstummt war, hielt eine Vielzahl von Fans (darunter Kanye West) die Trommel für ihre Rückkehr aufrecht. Das neue Album schüttelt einige der langjährigen Traditionen von The Mars Volta ab: Nur zwei Stücke sind länger als vier Minuten, und der
schwindelerregende, abrasive Prog-Stil der früheren Alben ist nicht vertreten. Stattdessen pulsiert "The Mars Volta" mit subtiler Brillanz, karibische Rhythmen untermauern die ausgefeilte, turbulente Songkunst.
Das ist The Mars Volta in ihrer reifsten, prägnantesten
und konzentriertesten Form.
John Howard was one of the best and most creative DJs of the west coast house scene back in the 90’s. His mixes and productions were full of house groove, soul, breaks and jazzy rhythms. This new series on Repeat contains of three parts including Howard’s best productions. These tracks are all huge influence for many producers that later discovered these kind of psychedelic house grooves on European based DJ sets… John Howard was on his own journey much ahead of time and his music still sound absolutely incredible 25 years later… Mesmerizing release.
The colossal Caposile Music strike once more with a heavy hitting house EP. This sought after summertime jam comes from resident and long time family member, Maggio. The flourishing Italian talent enforces the driving force that is After Caposile with three driven and animated grooves for the peak hours of the party. Accompanying him with a stellar remix is acclaimed live performer and producer, Vitess, the Frenchman showcasing his consistent sound, living up to the Caposile ethos with great effect.
This is “Discoline”.
Title track “Discoline” cruises on an irresistible elastic groove, shimmering synths and pads shine bright, breathing life into the rolling structure of the track. This one living and breathing a pure and infectious summer time energy. Packing a serious punch is “Vertigo”, built upon crisp drum arrangements and another dynamite bass line for the heads. If you are looking to go up a gear on the floor then you are in the right place.
On the B side Maggio’s “Outer Space” leads the way. The aptly named track prepares you for lift off with its distinctive chugging, sub heavy bass. Sprinkles of spaced out vocals tease you down a path of curiosity. Vitess rounds off the EP with another recipe for dance floor frenzy in his remix of “Discoline”, playful yet effective frequencies to ignite the flight, an essential for the record bags of many in the coming months.
CPSL005 lands off the back of the “Sound Of Garden” volumes 1 and 2, and with this latest addition to the catalogue it ensures the label and club continue to cement themselves at the forefront of the scene for underground minimal and house, continuing to spread like wildfire. Become part of the Caposile family this summer with some sincere day time action from within their circle.
The Intergalactic Research Institute for Sounds is proud to present Requiem for Robots. For this latest transmission, Florina Speth aka Schloss Mirabell joined forces with a group of robots that were built by Kay Sievers (versioduo.c..). The musical question this record states is: “Who animates what?”
The physical body of these robots consists of a wooden cuboid, a single string around which a round, internally strung bow revolves, and a motorized finger which can press down the string. They produce sounds that are very similar to the cello. They display unusual characteristics such as motor noises, infinite sounds or sometimes scratchy and gruff qualities. In addition, there is the extraordinary level of kinetic expression created by the bow circling around the string. Taken together, precisely these peculiarities form a unique instrument profile, a character which is emphasized in the presented project.
Florina Speth, born 1983 in the mountains near Salzburg, started playing the cello and piano at the age of 6 and began studying music at the “University Mozarteum Salzburg'' at Clemens Hagen when she was 11. She won several prizes and was part of orchestras such as the Bayerisches Landesjugend Orchester and Salzburger Junge Philharmonie. Always keenly interested in contemporary music, she loves bridging experimental arts with science. She composes and works with cello and cello robots. She regularly collaborates with Dasha Rush, Hüma Utuku, Nicholas Bussmann, Lucile Desamory and Larissa Lackner.
Tamango Records boss Yaya heads to TRMNL Records as he unveils his latest EP on the imprint, backed by remixes from Salty Nuts head honcho Fabe and label resident Vito.
Heading up his Tamango Records imprint while serving up killer cuts and remixes on Desolat, Moan, Revival New York and more, Yaya is a man in high demand across the globe. With his take on house music bridging influences from Africa to Italy, his percussive-driven and slick sound has made him a favourite for those looking for productions leaning towards the more energetic yet minimal end of the genre. That style is on show once more as he adds a new label to his catalogue. Joining the likes of Djebali, East End Dubs, Ray Mono and Samu.l, late July brings the release of his new EP ‘Para Siempre’ on UK imprint TRMNL Records, accompanied by a slick pair of remixes from Fabe and Vito to shape up the package.
Title track ‘Para Siempre’ is a skippy and bouncy lead effort as crisp drums, a zippy bassline, and warped vocals go to work to showcase a production bursting full of vigour, while ‘Umbrella Corps’ leans towards more organic, rolling percussion arrangements, shuffling rhythms and elastic melodies guide things towards the later hours. On the flip, Fabe steps up for the first remix as he brings his signature groove-led style to proceedings for a swingfuelled slice of funk, before Vito’s crisp take on ‘Umbrella Corps’ closes the show with a final injection of early hours goodness.
Early DJ Support:
Joseph Capriati, Marco Carola & ALISHA
This latest instalment of ARTHUR BAKER Presents DANCE MASTERS finds the production/ song-writing/ remixing maestro taking the spotlight for a long overdue snapshot of his own classic 12” mixes during a crucial evolution of dance music, club
and pop culture.
“I’ve always felt like I was on a mission to make music from the time I heard Motown, Philly and Sly and the Family Stone. My mission started as a hobby and still feels like one now. You’ve got to keep on pushing and hustling. It can be a drag sometimes but
if you really love what you’re doing, it’s worth the work. I still really love what I do.”
Arthur Baker helped codify the remixer as artist. His genre-fluid approach to projects
has resulted in a joyous myriad of classics that spans many decades. This ’80’s focused DANCE MASTERS collection offers a welcome glimpse at Baker’s illustrious career and many long out-of-print 12” versions and previously unavailable mixes.
This 35-track, six LP expanded edition includes a wide array of selections from the likes of Robbie Nevil’s “C’est La Vie,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Big Love,” Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance”, Jeffrey Osborne “Soweto”, Freeez “I.O.U”, Rockers Revenge “Walking On Sunshine” and of course the juggernaut “Planet Rock” with Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force.
Complete with in-depth liner notes by Bill Coleman, track by track notes written by Arthur Baker himself, previously unseen session photos from Arthur’s personal archives and a signed insert.
All tracks remastered by Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering
Walter De Buck, oprichter van de Gentse Feesten, volkzanger en beeldhouwer, liet tijdloze volksmuziek in het Gents na. Violist en componist Guido Schiffer en zanger Pieter-Jan De Smet namen het initiatief om die liedjes een frisse injectie te geven. BUCK – wat zowel de naam van de groep als van de plaat is – koos voor evergreens uit het De Buckboek, maar vist ook prachtige minder bekende nummers op. De muziek is kleurrijk, met vaak een heerlijke mix van strijkers en blazers. En vol plezierige en sprekende accenten. Gentenaar en muzikant Pieter-Jan De Smet zingt in een onvervalst en smakelijk Gents, met veel inlevingsvermogen en expressie. De aanstekelijke arrangementen van Guido Schiffer en Reinhard Vanbergen, laten de teksten herleven. Je ontdekt ze opnieuw. En vooral, ze geven het oeuvre van Walter De Buck en ook het Gentse dialect een plaats in onze tijd. Bij BUCK is het erfgoed van Walter De Buck in goede handen. (Karel Van Keymeulen)
The long-awaited release by Orlando Voorn on NOUN Records is almost here and we're thrilled to share it with you. The tracks on this release are characterized by their pulsating rhythms, driving basslines, and hypnotic melodies, all of which showcase Voorn's exceptional talent for producing top-notch dance music. We hope you'll enjoy this latest offering from Orlando Voorn as much as we do. Stay tuned for its upcoming release and be ready to experience its mesmerizing beats.
We’re starved for two-sided 12”s in the world of ambient music, but Chris Madak aka. Bee Mask has refreshingly graced us with one this week.
It should be said that there’s Skee Mask and then there’s Bee Mask; the latter is far more unsung, undeservingly so. Madak’s music is abstract and cerebral enough to have lent him credo enough to have released on the likes of Weird Forest, Spectrum Spools and Room40.
But this latest reissue, ‘Versailles Is Not Too Large Or Infinity Too Long’, hears him plunge the aethereal heights for the US label Unifactor. Originally released on cassette on Chondritic Sound in 2008, these pieces deserve the renewed attention and the fresh laying to wax, since they’re not “regular ole” ambient cuts in the slightest.
Unafraid of indulging the high end freqs, Bee Mask fleshes out a mood of uncertain, urgent bliss - sizzling, crunching and soaring the drone, as if its maker were a modern Icarus flying too close to the sun.
"In this album, Akira Umeda mixes 42 recordings, dated between 1988 and 2018, which, in a sense, reflect the incredible range of his creative work: from songs, to ambient music; from field recordings to prank calls. The cassette tapes, whose contents make up this double-LP, had been stored in Umeda’s house in São José dos Campos, in São Paulo, Brazil.
Restless, and easily bored, Akira moved seamlessly from one activity to another – he was a little bit of everything (and nothing at all). Such people usually go unnoticed and unrecognized, something which Umeda found perfectly acceptable. Nevertheless, unlike most people, he had no right to see himself in this light – in the light of ephemerality and anonymity –, for in everything he tried his hand at, he inevitably left an impressive and distinctive mark.
The term cruising refers to the practice of seeking and obtaining instant, no-strings-attached sexual gratification with strangers. Akira Umeda was well-acquainted with this term, but his practice of it was not restricted to the aforementioned context. Rather it extended into all spheres of his life and work. A historian by training, he later became a ceramicist, a photographer, a visual artist, a draftsman, a graphic designer, a DJ, a musician, an audio technician, a writer, a researcher... He made forays into a myriad of artistic and academic fields – with a single intention: to achieve a specific objective and promptly exit stage left, as it were."
Contagion Vapors was recorded between May 2020 and March 2021, in tandem with 'Transgressive Transmissions'. Both albums have been released by Castles in Space, however they feature completely different sonic energies.
Caught up in the first wave of pandemic doom/gloom which resulted in a bizarre creative bloom for Patrick, both albums have unique sounds anchored in the immense Patrick R Pärk/Kösmonaut discographies. This one is definitely a Kösmonaut record, however.
Patrick’s Contagion Vapors is a vaporwave sonic adventure which
soothes the worn soul like an icy balm with its motorik repetitions and sonic patterns and swirls.
Uncharacteristically upbeat and always positive, the album was a personal exercise in not becoming consumed by COVID isolation and misery. Major influences were Patrick Cowley, Cybotron, Automat, Cluster, and Harmonia and the entire album was recorded / mixed in the midnight witching hours over the course of only 2-3 days.
Ever prolific, Patrick is currently deep diving hard into post Y2K New Age conjurations with his massive Galactic Mirage project which should see another CD box set later this year. There's also some forthcoming Teeth Of Glass vinyl coming from Library Of the Occult later this year and plenty of Patrick’s self released "chrome sonic babies" in between.
Wildflower is a trio comprising Idris Rahman (sax), Leon Brichard (bass) and Tom Skinner (drums).
The trio takes you on an intense, meditative and spiritual musical journey that embodies the spirit of freedom. Based around hypnotic grooves laid down by Brichard’s unswervingly solid bass lines, drummer Skinner plays around artfully with the beats, grooving hard in constantly shifting, unexpected turns of rhythmic play. Rahman’s contributions range from subtle conversational interplay to loudly expressed angry passion to the most delicate of whispers, conveying a depth of emotion and a deep sense of musical structure withIn an ever changing sea of musical conversation.
Using simple, arresting melodies as a starting point, the trio create freely improvised waves of emotion ranging from powerful climaxes to hauntingly beautiful breath-like passages and everything in-between, creating unique forms and structures that react to the acoustics and the atmosphere of the situation.
Taking inspiration from the spiritual jazz pioneers such as John and Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Yusef Lateef and Sun Ra, compositional influences range from Gnawa music to modal jazz to Bengali folk music but the scope is wider still and the important unifying factor is the spontaneous communication and interplay between the three musicians. Rather than having a tight rigid structure, the tunes are allowed to breathe and develop into new unexplored forms, allowing fresh interpretations that make each performance a unique experience.
The album is a collection of live and studio recordings that have been recorded and mixed by the band.
Freestyle Records presents Albert "Alchemist" Thompson's Promise Land, an EP featuring vocals from reggae & dancehall greats Frankie Paul, Joseph Cotton, Prince Malachi & Anthony John, representing a musical collection that has gradually evolved, matured & marinated over the course of the past 32 years - now finally seeing it's first ever release.
Albert Thompson (brother to the great Peter Chemist) was chief engineer at the storied I&I Sound Recording Studio after it moved it's base from Los Angeles to Jamaica in 1989, working with a wide range of heavyweight artists such as Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer, Mighty Diamonds, Gregory Isaacs & many many more. During some studio downtime in early 1991, Albert laid down the rhythm track (itself a take on Aswad's Love Fire riddim, made most famous by Dennis Brown's iconic Promised land vocal track) with musical assistance from Tony Thomas.
16 years and a move to London later, Albert had founded his Alchemist Recording Studio on Brixton's Acre Lane in a space above the legendary Supertone Records - recording dubplates with talented local artists and touring Jamaican artists alike. Digging out the Promise Land tape, he proceeded to cut these 4 vocals on the version during the course of 2007. Another 16 years gone, and after hearing the tracks following a chance encounter with Albert in South East London, we felt they were finally ready to see release!
On our latest Savor EP, 'Tracks from the Vault Part 2', South American legend Franco Cinelli delivers the goods.
On the A-side he pays homage to a legendary musician with "Tribute To Miles Davis". This track seamlessly blends elements of jazz and electronic music, creating a hypnotic sonic journey that captivates the listener from start to finish. Cinelli's meticulous attention to detail and impeccable production skills shine through, as he masterfully combines intricate drum patterns with mesmerizing melodies and atmospheric textures.
The B-side introduces us to "Electronic Funk," a high-energy dancefloor mover that blends influences of Detroit and funky electronic music. Cinelli's masterful production skills are once again on display as he creates a dynamic and infectious groove that demands movement from its listeners. The track features a pulsating bassline, crisp percussion, and synth melodies that intertwine flawlessly, creating an irresistible atmosphere that is bound to get any crowd grooving.
